Paris Region has a higher concentration of life sciences organisations than any other European region, with particular strength in the healthcare sector.* The environment it offers makes it unique among metropolitan regions, with a high number of education and training establishments all of which work in close collaboration with companies in the sector. These partnerships have been further strengthened through the creation of the Medicen Paris Region competitiveness cluster which offers international companies unique opportunities by facilitating access to SMEs, major corporations, research centres and universities active in the sector.
Paris Region also offers outstanding infrastructures, especially in the field of cellular, molecular and genomic medicine. The dedicated sites such as Biocitech, Genopole, Paris Biopark and others offering premises suitable for biotech companies are a particularly striking example.
The AP-HP - Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris - is Europe's largest hospital network (37 hospitals with a total capacity of around 23,000 beds), and provides an unrivalled facility for conducting clinical trials. As a result the AP-HP is France's biggest clinical trials centre, having undertaken 610 biomedical research projects by the end of 2005.
The research tax credit offered by the French government represents a significant competitive advantage for international players in the sector, while the geographic proximity of key decision-making bodies and organisations such as AFFSAPS (healthcare products regulatory body) and LEEM (the French Pharmaceuticals Companies Association) is an additional benefit.
These various factors combine to create a highly investor-friendly environment. Venture capitalists are increasingly active in the life sciences sector, and this has led to stock market flotations for a range of biotech companies. Many consultancies, industrial property experts and legal practices have developed specialist expertise in this sector and represent a key resource for companies locating to Paris Region.
*Investment Strategies and Locations Benchmarking Study, the Medtech Report 2006 - a report by Oxford Intelligence
Main players
- Biotechnologies: 19 of the 20 global leaders are present in Paris Region: AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers-Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Lilly, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, etc.
- Medical technologies: Biorad, Diagnostica, Stago, Guerbet, Septodont, Alcon, B Braun Medical, GE Medical Systems, Siemens, etc.
Research and training
300 public and private research centres employing 7,400 and 4,400 researchers respectively, 9 universities offering complete degree courses in life sciences, engineering colleges offering training and developing research activities in this sector and finally 39 postgraduate establishments awarding more than 460 doctorates every year
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Key figures
- 320 pharmaceutical companies (57% of the national total)
- 32,200 jobs (Abbott, Beaufour IPSEN, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals...)
- 360 medical equipment and supplies companies (30% of the national total)
- 150 biotechnology companies (50% of the national total)
- 57,000 jobs
In the spotlight
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Life sciences in Paris Region
