ROUEN NORMANDY INVEST

Why set up your healthcare/biotechnology business in Rouen and the surrounding region in Normandy?

A healthcare ecosystem that fosters innovation, from fundamental research right through to bringing your products to market

Key figures for Normandy

• World’s leading centre for perfumery and cosmetics
• World’s leading centre for packaging
• France’s second-largest region for medicinal chemistry
• 4th in France for pharmaceutical production
• 190,000 jobs in the health sector
• Four in ten people in Normandy work in the Rouen metropolitan area (43% of jobs in Normandy are located in the Rouen urban area)

Major companies in the Rouen-Seine-Eure metropolitan area

Active ingredients/pharmaceuticals & cosmetics: Sanofi, Janssen, Aspen, GSK, Ethypharm, Fareva, Carlo Erba Réactifs, Hermes Parfums, CCI Productions&Parfums, MSD, Fresenius Kabi

Delivery systems: Aptar Pharma, Plastibell Pharm

Testing and analysis: SGS Multilab Rouen, Intertek

Packaging: Autajon, Etilabel

Distribution: Astera, Continental Pharmaceutique, EP Dis, OCP Répartition, Planetpharma

Listing or procurement centres: Helpevia, Didactic, HACOM

Healthcare facilities: Rouen University Hospital (10,400 jobs) Henri Becquerel Unicancer Centre (750 jobs), Le Rouvray Hospital (2,000 jobs), Elbeuf-Louviers-Val de Reuil Hospital (2,200 jobs)

Basic and clinical research

3,200 researchers are spread across the public and private sectors.

The main strengths in health research lie in cardiology, oncology, genomics, neurosciences, toxicology and medical imaging, chemistry and the humanities.

Basic research is organised within umbrella organisations such as IRIB Normandy Rouen (medical biology), INC3M (chemistry), and IBiSA-accredited research platforms: PRIMACEN, PISSARO, SCAC and PRESEN in Rouen, working in conjunction with clinical research at university hospitals and cancer centres.

Clinical research in Rouen in 2016

• The Rouen University Hospital’s Clinical Research Centre: Rouen University Hospital is conducting 1,030 clinical trials involving more than 6,000 people,
• Henri Becquerel Cancer Centre: the Rouen centre is conducting 126 clinical trials involving 3,000 patients.
• The number of publications stands at 2,217, of which 494 are ranked A.

Rouen Health Innovation Ecosystem

Rouen Innovation Santé, a network of partners and resources to develop business projects in health and wellbeing:

• Clinical research
• R&D network (health, data, electronics, prototyping)
• University of Medicine and Pharmacy
• Training for medical and research staff (ESITECH, ERFPS)
• Medical Training Centre open to businesses
• Network of subcontracting firms
• Consultancy firms and CROs
• Funding network, BPI, Normandie Participation, NCI (venture capital), accelerators, business angels,
• Normandie Incubation
• Seine Biopolis: network of dedicated business incubators and business centres
• Business park with the potential for 30,000 m² of floor space to be developed into offices and laboratories

The Pharmaparcs in Val de Reuil and Le Vaudreuil

Designed to facilitate the establishment of businesses and services, they are centred around major production facilities and laboratories such as Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi-Pasteur, Aptar Pharma, Val de Pharm, Plastibel and Pharmalog, creating an ecosystem designed to facilitate B2B relations and attract talent:

• Facilities to support business establishment, with over 41 hectares of land developed for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors and 60 hectares for services and logistics
• Local telecommunications network
• Computerised system for managing administrative procedures
• Business advisory services and a business start-up support platform
• Business incubator and business centre
• Public transport links
• Services: inter-company crèches with extended opening hours, inter-company car-sharing, accommodation and catering services…

Networks and competitiveness clusters to support entrepreneurship

Polepharma, the pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster

Cosmetic Valley, a competitiveness cluster dedicated to supporting manufacturers in the perfumery and cosmetics sector

Glass Vallée, the cluster for luxury packaging, perfumery and pharmaceuticals

LSN, the logistics and packaging sector

Setting up a logistics business in Rouen and the surrounding area, one hour from Paris La Défense, in Normandy

Just one hour from Paris, at the heart of an employment area with a population of 800,000, the Rouen-Seine-Eure region offers numerous economic advantages and a dynamic environment for setting up your business in Normandy:

• The motorway network (A13–A14, A28 and A29), sea and river links, the rail network (including the planned Paris-Normandy High-Speed Line and the completion of a new station that will bring Rouen within an hour of Paris) and the numerous bridges across the Seine in Upper Normandy are all contributing to the development of a genuine logistics hub in the Rouen area.
• Proximity to the Paris airports of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly (1h30) and to the markets of the Île-de-France region
• 1,500 businesses (logistics services)
• 15,000 employees in logistics, specialising in maritime and port operations, representing 6.5% of employment
• North-West Europe’s leading port for cereal exports

Setting up your logistics business in Rouen, Normandy

Logistics business parks where you can set up your business in Rouen, Normandy

• Logistics companies can set up in Rouen at the Le Malaquis Business Park, the Petit-Couronne Port Terminal and Rouen Vallée de Seine Logistique.
• Logistics and port companies can set up at the Grand Port Maritime de Rouen, strategically located on the Seine corridor, halfway between the sea and Paris.
• The Seine, serving as both a sea and river route, allows seagoing vessels to travel as far as Rouen, 80 km inland. The ‘Boucles de la Seine’ area and its locks then take over to transport freight on to Paris. A total of 26 million tonnes are handled (21 million for the port and 5 million for the river) in the Rouen basin. Transport operators and support services, logistics, packaging, technology and logistics property all serve major French, European and global clients.

Logistics infrastructure in Rouen, Normandy

Logistics infrastructure for setting up a business in Rouen, Normandy

Highly specialised training programmes:

• Neoma Business School, IDIT, the Ecole des Douanes and the Institut Supérieur de la Navigation Intérieure provide logistics operators in the region with a diverse range of qualified personnel (from vocational qualifications to master’s degree level).
• The wide range of training programmes, each specialising in different stages of the supply chain, thus enables the recruitment of a skilled workforce: Import/Export Purchasing Technician, Warehouse Clerk, Stock Controller, Warehouse Manager, Customs Agent, Logistics Specialist…

Competitiveness clusters:

• The Nov@Log competitiveness cluster plays a vital role in enhancing the competitiveness of businesses and in driving research and innovation in logistics.
• Dedicated to regional logistics professionals, the Seine-Normandy Logistics Sector  brings together businesses, professional organisations, research and training bodies, local authorities and development agencies to promote and enhance the Normandy logistics sector, develop the range of logistics services on offer and boost business competitiveness.
• The Rouen Logistics Club, for its part, brings together businesses and organisations involved in the logistics sector from all walks of life, and its mission is to strengthen the development of the logistics sector in the region in order to boost employment and the local economy.

Companies based in Rouen

Logistics companies based in Rouen, Normandy

Over 3,000 companies and nearly 24,000 employees in the logistics sector in Rouen: Major players in the logistics sector such as Total, Schenker, Continental Pharma, Rhénus, TFE, ILN Renault, Vente Unique, De Rijke, Malherbe, Deret, as well as all the courier services, have chosen to set up operations, alongside numerous other logistics companies, in the Rouen employment area.

Why set up your business in Normandy?

Setting up your industrial business in Rouen and the surrounding area, just one hour from Paris La Défense, in Normandy

Just one hour from Paris, at the heart of a labour market covering 816,000 people, the Rouen Normandy Metropolitan Area offers numerous economic advantages and a dynamic environment for setting up your business in Normandy.

A region of industrial excellence in the fields of aeronautics, agri-food, energy, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, transport and healthcare, it is home to no fewer than 1,200 businesses, 120 of which have more than 50 employees. Heavily export-oriented and generating significant added value, these businesses are organised into major sectors to foster research, innovation and training.

All these activities are further supported by the metropolitan centre of excellence: Rouen Madrillet Innovation 

Setting up an industrial business in Rouen, Normandy

Industrial businesses can set up in Rouen at one of the 13 dedicated business parks, such as: the Sablonnière Business Park, the Yainville Business Park, the Le Malaquis Business Park, or CREAPARC la Vente Olivier, dedicated to industry and industrial services.

The region encourages the emergence and growth of research organisations and projects within its territory. The Rouen Metropolitan Area is one of the most dynamic interdisciplinary hubs for R&D, with over 4, 000 researchers. 

This region benefits from a strategically favourable location for industry players thanks to the Port HAROPA, the leading river and seaport between Paris, Rouen and Le Havre.  Covering an area of 38,000 hectares, the port has the capacity to handle a wide variety of cargo flows, particularly industrial ones, thanks to the expertise of its operators and the diversity of its infrastructure.

Industry-specific infrastructure in Rouen

• Next Moove: the European competitiveness cluster for mobility (supporting over 600 accredited projects)
• E-mobility Academy, a training organisation dedicated to careers in electric mobility.
• Normandie Aérospace brings together stakeholders in the aerospace sector
• Pôlepharma, a cluster for the pharmaceutical sector
• Cosmetic Valley, the cosmetics competitiveness cluster
• Normandie Energies, the Normandy energy efficiency and energy mix sector.

Companies based in Rouen

Companies in the mobility sector based in Rouen

• Presence of leading automotive manufacturers and their main suppliers: Renault, Carrier Transicold, Cléon Mégafactory
• A Dutch company specialising in the design of 100% electric buses: EBUSCO

Agri-food companies based in Rouen

• Agri-food groups present: Ferrero, Segafredo, Nexira and Novandie,
• Innovation and new agri-food markets: Nutriset (nutritional supplements), Saipol (oilseeds).

Pharmaceutical companies based in Rouen

• Production sites: Sanofi Pasteur, Aspen, GlaxoSmithKline and Janssen-Cilag
• Pharmaceutical distributors present: Astera
• Pharmaceutical research laboratories present: Ethypharm

Chemicals and energy companies based in Rouen

• Lubrizol, Borealis, BASF Agri Production

Electrical and electronic manufacturing companies based in Rouen

• Veoneer France, Legrand, Transformateurs SAS

Mechanical and metallurgical companies based in Rouen

• Flexi-France (Technip Group)

Why set up your business in Normandy?

Setting up your ICT business in Rouen, Normandy

Just one hour from Paris, at the heart of a labour market area with a population of 816,000, the Rouen Metropolitan Area offers numerous economic advantages and a dynamic environment for setting up your business in Normandy.

Rouen, which holds the French Tech accreditation (#NormandyFrenchTech), is well-suited to the development of digital businesses:

• 565 businesses (UPPER NORMANDY SECTOR)
• 10,000 jobs (HAUT-NORMANDE SECTOR)
• The associations Normandie Web Xperts and Normandigital promote the sharing of expertise and develop new, innovative products and services.
• The CCI Normandy Digital Cluster and ORETIC, the regional ICT observatory
• Higher education programmes in the ICT sector ranging from two to five years of post-secondary study: CESI Exia (national ‘Industry of the Future’ demonstrator), Insa, Esigelec, Normandie Web School, NFactory Innovation School, etc.
• Organisation of numerous events: the #NWX conferences, including the NWX Summer Festival, E-mk, Normandigital, Codeurs en Seine, Net Secure Day, Carrefour des Possibles, Start-Up Weekend, etc.
• Highly skilled and diverse expertise: search engine optimisation, e-commerce, web development, social media marketing, marketplaces, digital marketing, CRM, gamification, cyber security, big data, bioinformatics, 3D and VR, BIM, telecommunications (hosting, maintenance, telephony…), consultancy (audits, project management and market research, drafting of specifications…),
• Data centre provision: Altitude Infrastructure, EDF, Orange and Webaxys’ innovative Green Data Centre
• An R&D network stemming from university laboratories (Laboratory of Computer Science, Information Processing and Systems) and grandes écoles, including INSA and ESIGELEC.
• French Tech Rouen Normandy community: Benefit from a dense network of innovative and committed start-ups.
• E-secure & Digital Innovation Competitiveness Cluster

Setting up your ICT business in Rouen

Business parks and ICT infrastructure for setting up your business in Rouen, Normandy

• 4,000 m² of business centre space
• 1,000 m² of business incubator space

Seine Innopolis:

The new ICT hub dedicated to hosting businesses in the digital sector: a 10,000 m² building with dual ultra-high-speed fibre-optic connectivity and secure FTTO access, comprising 5,200 m² of business incubator/business centre space, a Digital Canteen (co-working space), a shared IT room, a video-conferencing room, etc.

Facilities of excellence:

• LITIS (Laboratory of Computer Science, Information Processing and Systems)
• CISE (Embedded Systems Integration Campus)
• CRIANN (Normandy Regional Centre for Computing and Digital Applications)

The Hbu 4.0 business incubator and the Village by CA in Rouen offer a variety of workspaces and a dynamic environment conducive to the development of ICT businesses.

Companies based in Rouen

ICT companies based in Rouen, Normandy

The regional capital is a prime location for the creation and establishment of digital and ICT businesses close to Paris:

Presence of major groups: Orange, Complétel-Numéricable, Cap Gemini, Assystem, Orone, Econocom, Ceriel

Emergence of numerous start-ups and SMEs: Saagie, OmicX, Attineos, Marché-privé.com, PayGreen, Event Bots, Digiworks, Powertrafic, Spread,

The service sector in Rouen: A dynamic and rapidly expanding pillar of the economy

The service sector dominates the economy of the Rouen metropolitan area, accounting for over 75% of salaried employment. Spread across some 33,000 establishments, these jobs are mainly concentrated in the financial, property and insurance sectors. Owing to its close links with maritime trade and industrial production, which have historically formed the economic bedrock of the Rouen metropolitan area, the service sector plays a major role in the region.

Property complex for the service sector

In recent years, the supply of commercial property for service sector businesses has expanded considerably. Business incubators and business centres, as well as the completion of the Luciline-Rives de Seine district, have helped to boost the region’s appeal. However, the next ten years are expected to see significant expansion thanks to the development of the Flaubert district, offering new opportunities for service sector businesses to set up. More than 220,000 m² of office space will be available to accommodate businesses in the service sector. The future Saint-Sever Nouvelle Gare district, with its extensive land, will enable the emergence of a modern and expansive business district, benefiting from excellent connectivity to the main transport routes. Coworking spaces, business centres, business incubators and business hotels are already available in the area. It also boasts over 300 ha of land, comprising business parks and former brownfield sites. 

Centre of excellence for the service sector

Rouen stands out for its economic diversity, with key sectors such as:

• Customer Relations

With over 40 call centres and more than 3,000 jobs, the customer relations sector finds Rouen the ideal environment in which to grow. The capital of Normandy has already attracted major players such as Sitel, the world’s third-largest player in the sector. It remains a prime destination for the creation and establishment of customer relations centres (customer services, telemarketing, surveys and polls) close to Paris. A notable example is Voxens, a service provider founded and developed in Rouen, which is now the leading fundraising organisation for the charitable sector.

• Finance & Insurance 

The banking and insurance sector employs over 4,000 people and comprises more than 250 companies (AXA, CARDIF IARD, GROUPE IMA, CRÉDIT AGRICOLE NORMANDIE SEINE, MAAF, MATMUT, etc.) and is growing steadily to meet the practical needs of the metropolitan area’s residents.

• Digital Technology

This sector is home to several leaders in the ICT sector (ATTINEOS CYBERSECURITE, SAAGIE, AXIANS, PROXIAD).

These business set-ups are facilitated by the wide range of specialist training courses offered by educational institutions in the Rouen region. Furthermore, Rouen Normandy Invest’s expertise in this sector is a considerable asset. As a member of the French Customer Relations Association (AFRC) since its foundation in 1998, the organisation possesses in-depth knowledge of this sector and has contributed to its development in France.

Rouen, a hub for digital entrepreneurship in Normandy

Since being awarded the French Tech designation for the Normandy region in July 2015, the Rouen metropolitan area has become a veritable hub of entrepreneurial activity in the digital sector. The city is experiencing an unprecedented surge of creativity and innovation.

This entrepreneurial momentum is underpinned by a business-friendly environment, characterised by incubation schemes such as Neoma BS and Normandie Incubation, acceleration programmes such as Le Village by CA, co-working spaces and business incubators.

The Rouen metropolitan area has built a solid reputation in the digital sector and has established itself as a major player in technological innovation in Normandy. Local entrepreneurs benefit from unprecedented support to turn their ideas into concrete and ambitious projects. Through this thriving French Tech community, Rouen is actively helping to shape the region’s digital future and to enhance its appeal as a breeding ground for innovation and growth.

Development of green industries and innovation in the Rouen metropolitan area

Specialising in the eco-business sector, the Rouen metropolitan area is investing in the innovations of tomorrow by focusing on a range of activities such as renewable energy, clean and efficient engines, electric vehicles and charging points, software and embedded systems, eco-friendly materials, thermal refurbishment of buildings, biofuels, nanoelectronics, supercomputers and robotics.

To support these sectors, the metropolitan area is home to several world-class facilities, such as:

• CEVAA (Vibro-Acoustic Testing Centre)
• CERTAM (Centre for Technological Research in Aerothermics and Engines)
• CISE (Embedded Systems Integration Campus)
• CRIANN (Regional Centre for Computing and Digital Applications)

The Rouen region is at the forefront of eco-technology development, with areas such as the energy transition, eco-mobility, eco-construction, the circular economy, smart and connected systems, and artificial intelligence, all of which are actively promoted through Rouen Madrillet Innovation. This centre of scientific excellence brings together research laboratories, higher education institutions and innovative companies, all focused on the field of eco-technologies. The Madrillet technology park notably includes:

• The European NEXTMOVE Competitiveness Cluster, bringing together 600 innovative organisations to foster synergies between businesses, research laboratories and training centres.
• A branch of the Nov@log Competitiveness Cluster, dedicated to logistics and the supply chain
• The Carnot Institute ESP (Energy and Propulsion Systems)
• Normandie AéroEspace, the association bringing together stakeholders in the aerospace sector in Normandy
• Normandie Energies, the association bringing together stakeholders in Upper Normandy involved in the production and distribution of energy, whether traditional or renewable.

Within the Rouen Normandy Metropolitan Area, no fewer than 1,700 businesses are active in the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), including a large number of start-ups operating in various sectors, notably impact technologies (Healthtech, Agrotech, Foodtech, Greentech, Low-Tech…).

Mobility is one of the Rouen Metropolis’s flagship projects. Since 2018, it has been developing the Rouen Normandy Autonomous Lab, a fleet of electric and autonomous vehicles. This project represents a major step forward in Europe, combining specialist expertise with regional innovation capacity, whilst offering an innovative service to residents.

All these investments demonstrate the Rouen metropolitan area’s commitment to developing the eco-activities sector.

A dynamic ecosystem and a skilled workforce in eco-technologies in the Rouen metropolitan area

The Rouen metropolitan area benefits from a rich ecosystem and a skilled workforce in the field of eco-technologies. More than 7,000 high-level technical and scientific professionals are trained at the higher education institutions based at the Madrillet technology park. These institutions include, in particular:

• University of Rouen: Departments of Mathematics, Physics and Engineering Sciences, with researchers and PhD students from the Faculty of Sciences
• ESITECH: Higher School of Engineers in Innovative Technologies
• INSA Rouen: National Institute of Applied Sciences
• ESIGELEC: Higher School of Engineering (electronic systems and telecommunications)
• CESI: School of Engineering specialising in the applied fields of the industry of the future, buildings of the future and smart cities.
• UniLaSalle: A polytechnic institute combining life sciences, earth sciences, environmental sciences and energy sciences with industrial sciences and digital technologies.

The metropolitan area is also home to a number of influential companies in the sector, which are driving innovation and expertise in the field of environmental technologies. These companies include, in particular:

• Renault Cléon: Manufacturer of internal combustion and electric motors, as well as gearboxes
• SAIPOL: Biofuels
• SGS Multilab: World leader in physico-chemical analysis and certification
• FEV: A world-renowned company specialising in propulsion systems engineering: testing of internal combustion, hybrid and electric powertrains
• AREELIS technologies: Energy systems and fluid dynamics
• MISSENARD: Installation and maintenance of HVAC systems for industry
• CEVAA: Engineering consultancy specialising in acoustics, vibration and thermal engineering

An attractive property portfolio for those working in the eco-business sector

The Rouen Metropolitan Area offers numerous opportunities for professionals working in the eco-activities sector. Over 500 property listings are available, including warehouses, business premises and offices, as well as 22 hectares of land on which to develop your projects.  The Innovapôle business incubator, meanwhile, supports innovative start-ups in their early stages by providing them with offices, workshops and shared services.

The development of the aerospace industry in Rouen

Today, the aerospace industry in Normandy generates an annual turnover of 4.1 billion euros and employs 21,500 people. The Rouen metropolitan area is constantly committed to improving this sector by identifying industrial trends, defining the main challenges and needs, and anticipating major developments in the field of training.

With this in mind, the Rouen region is focusing on four specific areas of expertise: the reliability of on-board electronic systems and components, additive manufacturing, drones and, finally, composites. Over 7,000 technical and scientific professionals are trained in aerospace-related roles. Numerous training programmes are delivered across more than 80 specialist institutions, including four engineering schools: INSA Rouen Normandie, ESIGELEC, CESI and UniLaSalle. The University of Rouen Normandy offers courses in Mathematics, Physics and Engineering Sciences, as well as PhD programmes through the Faculty of Sciences, thereby providing a wide range of skills for future professionals in the aeronautics sector.

Through these specialisations, Rouen aims to develop new, less polluting and more autonomous aircraft, to increase the reliability of electrical and electronic systems, and to reduce development costs and lead times. 

Aeronautics is a key sector for the Rouen region. Through its ongoing commitment to identifying industrial trends, meeting market needs and anticipating change, Rouen plays a vital role in promoting innovation and sustainability within Normandy’s aeronautics industry.

The dynamic ecosystem of the Rouen metropolitan area: A driver of innovation and competitiveness for the aerospace industry

The Rouen metropolitan area benefits from a thriving ecosystem that brings together SMEs and research laboratories, thereby fostering innovation and competitiveness at both national and international levels. In particular, the region is home to Normandie AeroEspace (NAE), a network founded in 1998 that brings together more than 170 Normandy-based organisations from the aerospace, space, defence and security sectors. This diversity of stakeholders, comprising major industrial firms, airports, military bases, SMEs and small-to-medium-sized manufacturers, as well as research laboratories, aims to give Normandy’s industry a leading role in major future projects. The NAE cluster is part of the Rouen Madrillet Innovation centre of excellence in engineering sciences.

300 hectares of land and brownfield sites are currently available to boost the aerospace sector and accommodate related activities.

The NAE cluster is working to develop the region’s industry to meet competitiveness challenges whilst attracting and retaining the talent of tomorrow. Among the companies based in this area are Areelis Technologies, Ariane Group, FEV France, Hutchins Paulstra, Meca HP, Ressorts Masselin, Revima, Safran, SUMPAR GROUP, Thales, as well as the laboratories Analyses et Surface, CEVAA, CORIA, GPM, IRSEEM, LITIS and LABORATOIRE PBS.