Paris caused a sensation at the presentation of the results of the Global Cities 2021 barometer by strengthening its attractiveness in the context of the health crisis and Brexit. Thanks to the dynamism of its territory, the Ile-de-France region enjoys an impressive attractiveness in various sectors of activity.

The health crisis has greatly slowed down international investment projects worldwide. Having taken place little by little, the proposals for action have been able to restore a certain dynamic, but in some cities more than others. Indeed, some sectors have taken the lead as a result of the crisis. The pandemic has put the life sciences sector in the spotlight, and the French capital has been able to place itself ahead of other metropolises such as Boston and London, thanks to world-renowned health research centres such as Saclay, Biocitech and Genopole. In 2021, Paris also became the number one destination in Europe for the financial services sector.

OpinionWay conducted a survey detailing the reasons for this growing attractiveness. After interviewing a sample of 500 international investors, the Paris region came in second place for the first indicator of the survey, that of the overall image of the cities. When asked about several criteria, these investors estimated that the Paris region will be the city that will most significantly improve its attractiveness over the next three years. It also ranked 3rd for the availability of qualified personnel and logistics infrastructures and 5th for its digital infrastructures.

France's capital owes this attractiveness to several criteria. The Ile-de-France region is fortunate to be at the heart of France and the heart of Europe in terms of transport, with 1,826 km of railway lines, numerous public infrastructures, an air network consisting of 3 airports and 38,979 km of roads. According to OpinionWay, Paris ranked 3rd in terms of logistics infrastructure. One of the reasons why companies in Ile-de-France have been able to better resist the health crisis is the strong presence of digital infrastructures in this region.  As the French nerve centre for software publishing and computer programming, which accounts for 45% of establishments and 54% of French jobs in the sector, Ile-de-France is in 5th place, a score awarded by the testimony of project leaders. Another competitive advantage lies in the availability of qualified personnel, an element cited by 88% of the investors interviewed.

Indeed, the region's territories contribute to the dynamism and growth of attractiveness, creating a richness and diversity in Ile-de-France.

Saint-Germain Boucles de Seine

Labelled as the "Territoire d'Industrie", Saint-Germain Boucles de Seine benefits from a dynamic and diversified economic web, with 23,000 companies and a highly qualified working population (37% of executives). The quality of its real estate offer attracts multinational companies as well as high value-added firms and high-tech industries such as Atos, which has set up in the Bezons incubator and gives local entrepreneurs access to its artificial intelligence laboratory. Served by nearly 16 train stations, the area is one of the most attractive in the Ile-de-France region and benefits from numerous renowned sites such as the XBLUE campus, for example. The quality of life is also an asset for this ecosystem rich in innovation.

Grand Orly Seine Bièvre

Orly Seine Bièvre is the third largest economic centre, after the city of Paris and the Paris Ouest La Défense area. With an innovative, diversified and productive economic web, Orly Seine Bièvre is home to 50,000 establishments in various sectors of activity and is focusing its development on the Digital, Health and Agri-food sectors. A land of innovation, Orly Seine Bièvre is also a territory that favours the welcoming of new structures by encouraging the support of project leaders and the establishment of partnerships with the existing ecosystem, particularly for research and development.  While positioning itself as an industrial and productive territory and making innovation its priority, the territory wishes to encourage the welcoming of the jobs of tomorrow.

Grand Paris Grand Est

With nearly 400,000 inhabitants, 14 municipalities and 30,000 companies, Grand Paris Grand Est is at the heart of the Greater Paris Metropolis. Linked to the capital by two RER lines and three motorways, the area offers a unique playground for large companies (RATP, IBM, FINDUS, RC Concept, Eiffage, Veolia, etc.) looking for the ideal site to support their development, particularly in the digital, ICT, cybersecurity or services sectors... With first-rate digital infrastructures and dedicated reception areas such as Le Plateau, in Montfermeil, the region - with its dense network of associations and social economy companies - also offers tailor-made support to developing companies.

Roissy

Designated as an "international trade cluster", the area benefits from a strategic location in Europe, a business environment supported by Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport and Paris-le Bourget business airport. Thanks to its diversity and projects, the region welcomes a large number of national and international companies. The municipalities in the area are preparing to extend their business parks in order to meet the very high demand from national and foreign companies attracted to the area. The economic development agency of the Roissy Pays de France agglomeration community is the Roissy Dev agency which develops and implements strategies and actions to promote the economic development of the area, particularly in the digital and agri-food sectors.

Paris Ouest La Défense

Paris Ouest La Défense has a rich and varied ecosystem. The area is home to the decision-making centres of international groups, a varied economic web of small and medium-sized enterprises and dynamic and diversified innovation networks: Finance, banking, energy, auditing and consultancy, industry and production... The region owes its attractiveness to a number of assets, including the richness and density of its entrepreneurial web and the diversity of real estate offers adapted to firms, particularly in Paris La Défense, ranked as the 4th largest business district in the world. The area also hosts several centres of excellence in training and renowned R&D centres, focused on the jobs and skills of tomorrow. In addition, Paris Ouest La Défense has a very rich and diversified cultural, tourist and sporting offer, providing a unique and appropriate living environment, favouring the balance between the living and employment areas.

Val Parisis

Located in the centre-west of the Val d'Oise (95), the Val Parisis territory is supported by a network of more than 21,000 economic players, including 6,000 companies that generate direct employment. Some thirty business parks contribute to the dynamism of an area that has made industry and services priority sectors for its development.

Argenteuil

Strategically located at the heart of Greater Paris, Argenteuil has a rich heritage, a strong identity, a dense industrial history and a dynamic and diversified business fabric. With major ambitions in the cosmetics, (cyber)security and industrial sectors, Argenteuil takes advantage of its three major business parks: Berges de Seine, Gare and Val d'Argent to offer international entrepreneurs a unique real estate offer and an exceptional working environment a stone's throw from the capital.

Genopole

France's leading biocluster dedicated to genetic research and biotechnologies applied to health and the environment, Genopole brings together 77 biotechnology companies, 18 research laboratories, 26 technology platforms and university training courses (University of Evry Paris-Saclay). Its objective is to create and support biotechnology companies and the transfer of technology to the industrial sector, promote the development of research in the life sciences, and develop high-level teaching in these fields.