Trade shows. Paris and its region welcome the world

As the European leader in trade shows and events, the Paris Region can rely on an extraordinary level of expertise, an impressive logistics capability and the amazing cultural and tourist attraction exerted by this region worldwilde. The Paris Region has the largest exhibition capacity in Europe, with a total floor area of 620 000 m², as well as many more extensions and new construction projects in the pipeline. That’s certainly the case with the new hall now under construction at the Paris Villepinte xhibition Center, which, at 36 000 m², will increase the total covered exhibition area to 236 000 m².

The region has long been the world capital for international conventions, and will be increasing the number of options available over the longer term, with the construction of brand-new convention centers. Projects include Eurodisney, where the opening of a new center covering more than 20 000 m² will be accompanied by additional accommodation capacity in the shape of a totally new hotel, and Orly airport, which is bulding a facility of equivalent size.

The seconde great strength of our region is the fact that it hosts such an impressive number of major exhibitions: more than 400 every year. The other great attraction of Paris Region trade shows and convention is, of course, the economic power and international image of Paris an its surrounding region. As Europe(s largest marketplace, this is the preferred hub from which 490 million European consumers.

Finally, the sheer organizational quality of the trade shows and conventons held here is another powerful advantage for the region. In terms of venues, the choice on offer is very easy to understand and interpret, and has been further simplified with the grouping together under the Viparis indetity of ten major venues previously managed separately by their two owners.

Source : Paris-Region Magazine, issue 9, march 2010 www.paris-region.com

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Paris Region. An international place to invest

Around 20% of all jobs in Paris Region are generated by international groups. Paris Region’s 65,000 international managers represent around 100 different nationalities, primarily from OECD countries. This international workforce is highly qualified. In 2007-2008, Paris Region welcomed 73,000 international students, while foreign nationals account for 20% of students studying for Masters degrees and doctorates. Otherwise, 20,000 French students each year make the most of the Erasmus European exchange. On their return, they become part of a professional environment that’s cosmopolitan and multicultural in its outlook.

Paris Region’s highly-qualified workforce attracts entrepreneurs from all over the globe. France ranks No.2 in Europe for workforce qualification levels (Cushman & Wakefield, 2008). It offers a wide range of post baccalaureate courses covering the full range of disciplines within the European Bachelor/Master’s/doctorate framework, as well as specialist professional training programmes at all levels (school leavers through to PhD standard). Students at the universities and the Grandes Écoles are increasingly encouraged to gain work experience through apprenticeship schemes, while combined work/study programmes enable businesses to recruit graduates who already possess operational expertise. Contrary to popular belief, France’s workforce is the third most productive in the world. French workers produce US$35.08 per hour of work, just behind those in the USA (US $35.63/h) and Norway (US$37.99/h).

Photo : "Cité universitaire internationale", welcome of the foreign students and researchers to Paris. © Vincent Gollain

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Research. Paris-Region, leader in fundamental and applied research

Paris Region is the only region in Europe which excels in both fundamental and applied research. The region employs 7% of the EU’s combined private and public research workforce (2006 figures). Its R&D expenditure is among the highest in the world (8% of European R&D expenditure and more than 40% of France’s R&D expenditure: a total of €15.5 billion).
Private research is the more active of the two sectors: private companies account for 67% of the total internal R&D budget. The private sector employs more than 80,000 researchers and research engineers, i.e. 7% of the private research workforce of the EU as a whole. The research is primarily carried out within 7 major industry sectors: life sciences, information and communication technologies, the automotive sector, aeronautics space-defence, ecotechnology, finance and chemicals.

A global research elite
Paris Region alone accounted for nearly 2% of global research publications in 2006, attracting researchers from all over the world (with more than 80 nationalities represented). “Genopo le® is France’s leading biopark dedicated to biotechnology and biotherapies. It is an active member of the Medicen Paris Region competitiveness cluster and brings together around 20 private and public research laboratories, more than 60 biotech companies and university courses (Université d’Evry Val d’Essonne). Its growth and its unique profile have earned it an international reputation and its rapid expansion is set to establish Paris Region as Europe’s leading industrial hub in the field of medication and therapeutic innovation by the year 2010.”

A global force in mathematics
For the last ten years, Science Watch has ranked Pierre & Marie Curie University (UPMC) the world’s No.1 University for mathematics research, ahead of the US universities. The Fields Medal, the most prestigious award for outstanding achievements in mathematics, has been awarded to mathematicians from French institutions twelve times in all. The Abel Prize for 2009 was awarded to Mikhaïl Gromov – a Russian-born mathematician based in Paris Region – for his revolutionary contributions to the field of geometry.

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Environmental awareness. Paris Nord 2 International Business Park receives ISO 14001 Certification

As part of its commitment to sound, responsible growth, Paris Nord 2 International Business Park has been setting strong environmental standards over the past few years. The business park has recently received from ECOPASS ISO 14001 Certification for the management of its shared facilities.

The first privately-managed business park in Europe, Paris Nord 2 has already attracted 500 companies and their 17.000 employees, offering exceptional surroundings. The business park spreads over 300 hectares that include 70 hectares of green, landscaped areas; one of the park's particularities, which we wish to preserve, in the perspective of a responsible future: our commitment to environmental awareness was self-evident.

The ISO 14001 certification asserts this commitment and validates the Environmental Management System we have established. Our goals in terms of water resources, maintenance of green areas, roads or facilities are recorded in our Environmental Management Program, along with the measures we will take to achieve them. This Program will be reviewed each year, according to the Continuous Improvement Process.

Hervé Chastagnol, General Manager of Paris Nord 2, explains: "As managers of the business park, we felt that guaranteeing the companies and their employees a high quality work environment was essential. Responsibility and sustainability are two keywords for Paris Nord 2's future. We took our first steps towards this future ensuring that our activities have as little impact as possible on the environment; this is what ISO 14001 certification is about.

Find Paris Nord 2's Environmental Policy

For information :
Communication Officer
a.bracquart@parisnord2.fr
01 48 63 10 00

© Paris Nord 2

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Paris Val-de-Marne. The future is a place

How to discover the South-Eastern Quadrant of the Greater Paris.



A video realised by the Economic agency of Val-de-Marne

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Benchmarking. Paris, the second most attractive business city in Europe

London and Paris remain the most attractive business cities, according to the 20th edition of the European Cities Monitor, published by international commercial real estate brokers and consultants Cushman & Wakefield. Paris continues to be attractive, but the economic crisis has allowed London to retain its edge.In the eyes of international investors, Paris is in second place when judged on the four main location factors: market accessibility, qualified staff, quality of telecommunications and external transport links.

"Quality of life for employees" remains a major advantage for Paris, which is in 7th place, well ahead of London and Frankfurt, ranked 11th and 24th respectively.The survey revealed that Paris is considered by senior managers to be the top destination for potential expansion into Western Europe and is ranked 4th after Moscow and Bucharest if they are interested in all of Europe. Paris has edged closer to London in terms of easy access to markets and transport infrastructure quality.

Survey method: European Cities Monitor analyses the opinion of senior managers of the 500 largest European corporations regarding the attractiveness of the major European cities and factors relating to their choice of future business location. The study compares 34 major European cities and analyses 12 key factors in choice of location.

©Philippe Guignard

European Cities Monitor 2009

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Innovation. Paris Region supports innovation

Paris Region stakeholders have set up two organisations to help develop innovation in the region:
- The Paris Region Centre for Innovation (Centre Francilien de l'Innovation) was established at the end of 2008 by Paris Region, the French government and the French Agency for Innovation (OSEO Innovation). Its goal is to encourage, promote, develop and support technologically innovative projects from local SMEs, research laboratories and, in some cases, individuals.
- Paris Region Innovation Laboratory (Laboratoire Paris Région Innovation) was founded by the City of Paris and Paris Region as part of a policy to support innovative businesses. The goal of this association is to "help Paris Region businesses and laboratories gain access to public facilities to test their innovations under real-life conditions."
The Laboratory seeks to make the Paris region available for trying out innovative products and to promote the image of Paris as an innovative city. It will be organising events such as the City of Paris Innovation Awards (Grands Prix de l'Innovation).

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Fortune 500 companies - Paris Region is one of the world’s leading economic centres

Paris Region (or Ile de France) is one of the world’s leading economic centres. Many companies across an extremely wide range of sectors locate their global or European head offices here.
Paris Region is Europe’s no.1 location of choice – and the world’s no.2, after Tokyo – for the 500 leading global businesses: ahead of London, New York and Chicago (source: Fortune magazine). The Fortune 500 is a list of the top 500 global businesses ranked by their revenues, published annually by Fortune magazine.

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©Philippe Guignard