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LIFE SCIENCES

The French government’s Investment Strategic Fund is supporting life sciences with a €1.55 billion budget and its regulatory environment is considered one of the most transparent in the world.

The biopharmaceutical industry employs more than 100,000 people, with 22,000 involved in R&D. There are 330 pharmaceutical and 230 biotech firms.

€4 billion is invested annually in R&D for new medicinal products. World-class private and public scientific research establishments include CNRS, INSERM and the Curie and Pasteur institutes.

France is a leading per capita spender on pharmaceuticals and an ageing population is stimulating demand for chronic treatments.

Contact Laurent Faye on 0033 4 72 77 83 21 or email laurent.faye@fco.gov.uk

ICT

In 2008, this sector was worth more than €113 billion, divided between ??55.3 billion on telecoms, ??9.5 billion on software and €48.3 billion on consumer electronics.

The government’s digital plan proposes an online identity card and greater access to healthcare and judicial services online. A nationwide switch from analogue to digital television is planned for the end of 2011.

There are many opportunities for companies providing services for high-tech equipment in schools and universities, cyber-crime and online fraud prevention and healthcare solutions.

Contact Isabelle Hurley on 0083 4 72 77 81 78 or email isabelle.hurley@fco.gov.uk

RAIL

This is a huge, long-term market with more than €100 billion to be invested over the next 15 years. World-class players include SNCF, Alstom, Bombardier and RATP. The sector is starting to open up to non-French companies, resulting in a number of UK successes. Opportunities exist in light rail, heavy rail, components, contracting, project management, consultancy and other services, although a local presence is necessary when dealing with large projects.

Contact David Hinchliffe on 0033 3 20 12 82 73 or email david.hinchliffe@fco.gov.uk


MAIN REGIONAL SECTOR CLUSTERS

Rail infrastructure

Valenciennes (Nord Pas-de-Calais)

Electronics and telecoms

Rennes (Brittany)

IT security systems

Marseilles (Provence Alpes Côtes d’Azur)

Aerospace

Bordeaux (Aquitaine) and Toulouse (Midi-Pyrénées)

Nanotechnology

Grenoble (Rhône-Alpes)