With some 312,062 salaried employees and over 170 companies, the Paris Region towers over its neighbors within the Hexagon in terms of foreign investors in the pharmaceutical industry, and has generated more than €7 billion in revenue. Its staggering number of strengths has it being around for some time to come.

The first clinical teaching and research institution in France. Paris Public Hospital Authority (AP-HP) gathers 37 hospitals, a homecare unit, a pharmaceutical establishment, 37 training centres, and employs more than 90 000 persons.

With 280,000 new cases per year in France, cancer is a major public healthcare issue and has been a national priority since 2002. In Paris Region, 22,000 people die from cancer every year. The Medicen Paris Region competitiveness cluster has made this field one of its leading priorities.

Paris Region has a very high research capability in the field of neuroscience and nervous system diseases, accounting for nearly 50% of the french capability.

Paris Region's academic and private research capability in the field of infectiology includes some of the world's largest and most eminent organisations.

Paris Biopark: a centre of excellence in life sciences that's unique in Paris - Biocitech: a technology park dedicated to life science - genopole: the gene and biotech city - Cancer Campus: a biotech nursery for developing innovative companies dedicated to life sciences.

medical imaging accounts 13% of the market for medical technologies in France. Three major players, together hold 70% of the global market. The medical imaging market in France is valued at around €800 million and employs some5,000 people.

Top-quality infrastructures and healthcare teams, outstanding traininig for researchers, a diverse and representative patient population, favourable legislation, the presence of world-renowned professors... combine to make Paris Region the leading promoter of clinical trials in France and one of the world's foremost regions in this field.

Molecular and cellular medicine encompasses the main medical applications of biological and genetic engineering techniques. The global market for cell/tissue therapies was worth an estimated US$ 145 million in 2005 and is set to grow at 28% annually, reaching a market value of US$ 2.1 billion by 2015.

Pharmaceuticals manufacturers, producers of medical equipment, biotech companies, service companies, hospital complexes and research and higher education institutions combine to form what is effectively a Paris Region “biocluster”.

Medicen Paris Region is a healthcare cluster, created in July 2005, which brings together all key life science and healthcare players in the Paris metropolitan area. Located in the heart of Europe’s leading economic and scientific region, the cluster constitutes the highest concentration of expertise and resources in healthcare research, development and industry.

Paris Region is renowned for hosting a very large number of company headquarters - yet it is also home to a dense network of innovative, successful and highly dynamic SMEs which are generating wealth and employment.

The Paris Region has made the life sciences a focus for excellence and innovation by concentrating energies and skills into a single world competitiveness cluster.