Lyon and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, European metropolis and major economic hub

The mission in brief

Acclr’s team of international trade experts of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, invites you to take part in a trade mission to Lyon from November 21 to 23, 2016, during the 2016 Entretiens Jacques Cartier.

Organized every year by the Centre Jacques Cartier, and held alternately in Lyon and in Montreal, the Entretiens is the francophone community’s largest gathering of decision-makers, business leaders, academics, and cultural stakeholders.

The following topics will be addressed during this mission: 

• The digital environment and technology » preliminary program
• Entrepreneurship » preliminary program
• Energy, sustainable development » preliminary program
• Finances and legal affairs » preliminary program
• Culture, art, and performance
• Health and life sciences » preliminary program
• Mobility, territories, smart cities » preliminary program
• Social and economic issues

This trade mission will provide a unique opportunity for Quebec companies to increase their contacts and clients, and to share best practices in an exceptional context.

Participation in the mission includes:

• Networking activities on the program, notably those held as part of the Entretiens Jacques Cartier
• The organization of personalized, individual business meetings, in addition to activities organized within the general program (optional)
• Personalized logistical support throughout your stay

This mission is eligible for subsidies for entrepreneurs from 35 and under.

Co-organized by:

Why the Lyon region?

Lyon is among the leading regions in the European Union, both in terms of its area and population, and the wealth that is created there. It benefits from a number of strong advantages:

• Strategic positioning as a European hub
• Proximity to several other markets
• Centres of excellence
• Significant potential in terms of research and innovation
• Exceptional economic attractiveness

Lyon’s metropolitan area is one of the regions boasting the most foreign investment in Europe. Resolutely focused on entrepreneurship and growth, Lyon offers businesses a most advantageous environment. In 2015 alone, over one hundred foreign firms of all sizes set up operations in the city of Lyon.

On the economic front, Lyon enjoys an international reputation and offers numerous business opportunities in several sectors, as evidenced by the presence of over 150 leading global companies in the region. Several of these leaders—including IBM, Electronic Arts, Toshiba, Sanofi Pasteur, GE Healthcare, Bayer CropScience, Bosch, and Philips—have chosen to establish their global or European headquarters in Lyon.

Life Sciences:

With 600 companies, 100,000 jobs, and 150 research labs, the Lyon region has one of the highest concentrations of university hospitals in Europe, and, with Lyonbiopôle, is the leading healthcare centre in France. In addition, Lyon is one of the ten largest biotechnology and healthcare markets on the continent. The region is also the world’s leading centre of vaccine production.

Digital Technology:

Digital media represent an important growth market in Lyon. Very well represented with 7,000 companies, 42,000 jobs, and a 3.5 billion euro turnover for the sector, the metropolitan region is teeming with opportunities for establishing partnerships, acquiring knowledge, and developing a clientele. In addition, the Lyon region is home to important clusters in the digital sector (IBM, Cegid, Hewlett-Packard), and the image data and video game industry.

Clean Technology:

Lyon boasts a dynamic ecosystem in the clean technology sector, and more particularly in the fields of energy and green building. The leading producer of energy and electricity in France, the Rhône-Alpes region includes almost 30% of companies and jobs relating to renewable energy and energy efficiency in France. It is also the leading French centre in the field of lighting, with 5,000 companies. The sector is also continuing to experience a significant expansion in the region, furthered by the presence of extremely high performance research centres, and numerous competitive poles and clusters.

Transportation:

With such leaders as Renault Trucks and Alstom Transport, Lyon is at the core of the transportation and mobility sector in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It has a network of over 700 companies, with over 80,000 jobs, and a turnover of over 13 billion euros, in addition to 80 laboratories, technical centres, and professional training organizations, making it the leading region in France for the automotive sector, with its collaborative research projects setting the European standard.

Lyon, facts and figures:

• 2^nd largest industrial agglomeration in France
• French city with the most favourable business climate
• 5^th leading city in Europe in terms of R&D spending
• World’s 17^th most attractive city for international investment
• World’s 19^th most innovative city, ahead of Hong Kong and Dubai

Who should take part?

The mission will be of particular interest to businesses in the following sectors

:

• Multimedia
• Web content and app development
• Industrial design
• Graphic design
• Interactive technology and media
• Event production
• Information technology
• Bio-industries
• Eco-construction products
• Public services
• Technology relating to intelligent network systems
• Nanotechnology
• Wind energy
• Solar energy
• Financial technology (fintech)
• Finance
• Culture
• Transportation
• Legal services and law firms