EPA EUROMEDITERRANEE

Why set up your business in Euroméditerranée in the Sud-PACA region?

Setting up your service business in Euroméditerranée in the Sud-PACA region

The Euroméditerranée area enjoys a strategic location in the heart of Marseille and is home to major national and international companies (SODEXO, AXA, ENGIE, EDF, SNCF, PERNOD RICARD and BNP PARIBAS).

Businesses based in Euroméditerranée benefit from:

•  The appeal of Marseille, which is France’s ^{second-fastest-growing} city in economic terms at European level and is one of a number of specialised service-sector cities characterised by strong momentum, driven by innovation and technology.

• A sustainable and eco-friendly city that fosters innovation and resilience
• An attractive urban living environment geared towards new ways of living, with 5,300 businesses and 270,000 m² of retail space. It also has 720,000 m² of office and business premises, 80% of which meet current technical and environmental standards.
•  The region’s ambition is to create 20,000 additional jobs by 2030, hence the priority given to job-creating businesses.
• Competitive rents compared with other major European cities such as Manchester, Hamburg and Barcelona
• A geostrategic location in the heart of Marseille, 20 minutes from Marseille-Provence International Airport and the Marseille St-Charles TGV station.
• Training programmes for young people aged 17 to 36 to prepare them for the labour market.
• A high level of professionalisation and a very wide range of activities within the sector.

Euroméditerranée also benefits from a new digital media hub run by Interxion, which creates a dynamic interconnectivity hub in the Mediterranean. It offers several services:

• Low latency for an optimised user experience, ideal for video games, advertising and live streaming
• Access to the European market from a secure location
• The ability to reach over 4.5 billion people across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia
• The opportunity to grow alongside a unique and connected community

The digital sector in Marseille

Boosting digital business within Euroméditerranée

A historic stronghold of microelectronics, the region is home to a digital sector employing nearly 50,000 people, specialising in a wide range of fields: big data/cloud, cyber security, connected devices, smart cities, e-health, marketing, e-tourism…

The range of training programmes is also constantly expanding to meet the needs of professionals. Aix-Marseille University, La Plateforme, the Théodora digital campus and numerous engineering schools all contribute to the dynamism of this ecosystem, which is at the heart of the digital revolution.

A symbol of Euroméditerranée’s vitality in the digital sector, the Med’Innovant competition, organised by the Public Development Authority, helps, each year, to accelerate the development of eco-innovative projects by start-ups capable of addressing challenges in line with the new imperatives for development and sustainability in the Mediterranean regions.

The services/tertiary sector in the Sud-PACA region

Developing your services/tertiary sector business in Euroméditerranée in the Sud-PACA region

Euroméditerranée is a public development agency leading an ongoing urban regeneration project in Marseille, France. It is France’s third-largest business district according to the latest figures updated by AGAM.

In the services sector, the Euroméditerranée area is already home to several French and international companies of all sizes:

• SNCF
• PERNOD RICARD
• SODEXO
• EDF
• INTERXION
• HARIBO
• JP MORGAN
• ORANGE

The region is also developing training centres such as La Plateforme_, which specialises in computer programming, cyber security and AI. The aim is to create a skilled workforce that will enhance the economic appeal of Euroméditerranée.

Why set up your business in Euroméditerranée?

Setting up a business in the eco-sector at Euroméditerranée, in the South PACA region

From the outset, Euroméditerranée was designed with sustainability and resilience in mind. With Euromed 2, the area is unquestionably at the forefront of urban ecology. As a true showcase, Euromed 2 offers an innovative, cross-cutting approach to open innovation, bringing together private and public partners as well as residents and users. The aim: to encourage the development of low-carbon buildings and to envisage a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive urban model.

Several initiatives symbolise this approach:

• Smartseille, a showcase for the city of tomorrow: a project covering nearly 60,000 m² that foreshadows a 700,000 m² eco-neighbourhood. Co-designed in partnership with Eiffage and its Phospore laboratory, as well as a consortium of private industrial partners such as EDF and Orange… and numerous start-ups, the project combines housing, offices, shops, hotels, care homes for the elderly, nurseries and schools…
• Les Fabriques, the eco-neighbourhood for makers, celebrates the artisanal and industrial heritage of this iconic site in Marseille’s 15th arrondissement whilst introducing new facilities (shared workshops, production and manufacturing tools, etc.) to attract start-ups, designers and craftspeople. With the aim of combining housing, offices and co-working spaces, as well as schools, training centres and care homes for the elderly, Les Fabriques will also prioritise renewable energy, as this is expected to account for 70% of the neighbourhood’s energy consumption.
• Marine geothermal energy: inaugurated in 2016, the Thassalia marine geothermal power station is the first in France to use marine thermal energy to power several flagship developments at the heart of the EcoCité: the La Marseillaise tower, the Euromed Centre, Les Docks Village, Les Terrasses du Port… Further north, several buildings are heated and air-conditioned by ‘Massileo’, another seawater loop. Ultimately, these systems will be able to supply nearly one million square metres.

Euromediterranée is rebuilding the city in harmony with nature

Aygalades Park aims to address issues relating to water management, mitigating the urban heat island effect, nature in the city and soil pollution. Acting as a genuine green corridor, it will help to address the shortage of green spaces in northern Marseille, whilst also offering a wide range of uses that reflect the neighbourhood’s social and generational diversity. As the first stage of this future green corridor, Bougainville Park is currently under development.

Porte d’Aix Park: the ongoing project has created an urban park covering more than one hectare within a vast public space, of approximately three hectares, which has been completely redeveloped. This marks a first milestone in the development of a genuine student neighbourhood, alongside the Institut Méditerranée de la Ville et des Territoires (IMVT), the EMD School of Management, the Axe Sud School of Graphic Arts and Design, and the university library.

Cybersecurity at the Heart of Euroméditerranée: A Unique Opportunity for Businesses

Marseille, already renowned for its data centres and its strategic position as the future fifth-largest global telecommunications hub, continues to strengthen its role as a technological leader by specialising in cybersecurity.  The Mirabeau Tower, situated at the heart of Euroméditerranée, is home to the Campus Cyber Méditerranée, a space dedicated to digital security. This collaborative venue, accessible 24 hours a day, is open to businesses of all sizes as well as local authorities. It fosters exchange, collaboration and innovation in the field of cybersecurity, creating an environment conducive to synergy and creativity.

The Marseille Cyber Campus brings together numerous key players essential to the development of cybersecurity.  It houses state-of-the-art research laboratories, training centres for professionals and future talent, as well as technology companies and industrial partners. This unique ecosystem encourages innovation and collaboration between the various players in the sector.

Among the district’s major facilities, Orange Cyberdefence France plays a crucial role. This organisation supports businesses of all sizes (micro-enterprises, SMEs, mid-cap companies and large enterprises) as well as public sector organisations in the region. Its mission is to anticipate, analyse and counter cyber threats using solutions tailored to the region’s specific challenges. The services offered include monitoring, protection against cyber threats and crisis management, thereby meeting a growing demand for cybersecurity solutions.

The region is actively committed to supporting businesses through the ‘Mon Bouclier Cyber’ scheme. This programme provides financial assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them protect themselves against cybercriminals. In addition to expert advice to raise awareness and assess the best protection solutions, SMEs benefit from funding for a one-year subscription to three cybersecurity solutions: enhanced antivirus, email protection and data backup.

The Cybersecurity Ecosystem in Euroméditerranée

The Euroméditerranée district of Marseille is establishing itself as a centre of excellence in cybersecurity, thanks to a rich and diverse training ecosystem. The initiatives and infrastructure in this area offer businesses, local authorities and individuals unique access to cutting-edge resources and training programmes. Euroméditerranée is home to several institutions offering high-level training in cybersecurity:

• Cyber Security School: Offers a specialised course lasting between 1 and 3 years, covering the full range of IT security roles. Students can obtain two bachelor’s degrees (BAC+3) as well as an MSc (BAC+5) to become experts in information systems security.
• Simplon: Offers intensive programmes in software development and cybersecurity, open to all.
• Centrale Méditerranée: Offers a Specialised Master’s in Cybersecurity for Complex Systems in Industry and Defence, a cutting-edge programme designed to meet the specific needs of these sectors.
• Ensitech: Offers a Master’s in Networks & Security, training experts in networks and IT security.
• Aix-Marseille University: Offers a BUT (Bachelor’s degree) in Networks and Telecommunications with a specialisation in cybersecurity, combining theory and practice to provide a comprehensive education.
• La Plateforme_: Offers a diverse range of courses for coders and web developers, security experts and engineers specialising in Artificial Intelligence.

In addition to this wealth of training opportunities, the region is also home to industry consortia, which foster partnerships and collaboration. The Network Information Security Club (CLUSIR PACA) plays a central role in the cybersecurity ecosystem of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. This club brings together various stakeholders involved in digital security, whether they are business leaders, representatives of local authorities or members of the cybersecurity ecosystem.

Why Choose Euroméditerranée?

The Euroméditerranée district in Marseille offers an exceptional setting for cybersecurity companies and professionals. Thanks to its rich and diverse training ecosystem, stakeholders in this sector can benefit from privileged access to leading educational and collaborative resources.  By setting up in Euroméditerranée, companies benefit not only from state-of-the-art infrastructure but also from a dynamic network of partners and experts, thereby fostering their development and innovation in a secure environment conducive to growth.