Invest Paris Essonne - Business Box
Key Competitive Attractions
Essonne is located in the Paris Region, with average distances to the centre of the capital no more than 10 km. The department is home to around 1.2 million inhabitants and 45,000 individual companies. A number of factors make Essonne an attractive target for investment:
- Efficient infrastructure: One international airport (Orly-Paris) and two TVG (high-speed) train stations.
- Property: Rental rates are in general 30% less expensive than in Paris.
- A strong base for R&D: 25% of research in the region and 15% of research in the country is conducted in Essonne. The department accommodates around 40,000 students.
- Strategic sectors: IT, biotech and greentech
- Financial aid: Companies in Essonne may be eligible for tax credits, as well as national and European-level finance schemes.
Assistance and Support For New Business Investors
The Essonne Business Box is marketed as toolbox for investors. Essonne Development agency have teamed up with various local public and private bodies (such as the organisers of the important SIMI trade show) to provide a whole range of services and tools to support companies moving into the area.
The Essonne Business Box provides a gateway for your projects:
- A dedicated manager to ensure customised support throughout every stage of the project, as well as follow-up support.
- A multidisciplinary team working in five languages: French, English, German, Japanese and Spanish.
- Help with recruitment
- Assistance with finding premises; the Essonne Development Agency manages a vast array of properties in the area; with your property offer we can provide you with your ideal premises.
- Help with funding applications and bureaucracy
- Resettlement of your staff to the area
- Access to business networks
Existing Business Base
Key figures:
- 1,200,000 inhabitants
- Young and dynamic population: 0-19 years: 27.7%, 20-59 years: 54,7%, 60+: 17.6%.
- Employed: 549,910 (Aged 20-59: 74.4%)
- Unemployment rate: 6.6% (9.2% on a national level)
- Employment by sector: Industry: 13.8%, construction: 9.9%, trade: 20.8%, services: 55.5%
- 686 patents registered in 2009
- 54% of patents in electronics, chemistry, machinery, mechanics or transport
In addition, Essonne is home to a number of business clusters: System@tic (telecommunications, security/defence, automotives, design tools, system development), Medicen (life sciences), ASTech (aeronautics - site in French), Mov’eo (automotives and collective transport), Cap-Digital (data technology) and Advancity (green technologies).
