POPULATION

• 31 cities
• Capital: Montpellier
• 8th largest city in France
• Fastest demographic growth nationwide
• 400,000 inhabitants
• 43% of the population under 30 years old

EDUCATION / RESEARCH

• 92,000 students, including 63,000 in Montpellier
• 3rd most dense region in France for public-sector research (number of researchers per capita)
• Major national research centres: BRGM, CEMAGREF, CIRAD, CNRS, IFREMER INRA, INSERM, IRD...
• 120 life science research centres in Montpellier
• 4th largest University Hospital in France: staff 9,000
• 400 people in Information and Communication Technology research and development centres

CREATING INNOVATIVE START-UPS

• One of the world's top two start-up incubators (NBIA 2007)
• Montpellier Agglomeration's European Business and Innovation Centre has accompanied 400 start-ups since 1987
• More than 80% still active after 3 years, compared to nationwide average of 63.4% (INSEE)

COMPANIES

• Montpellier Agglomération appeals to 78% of managers and business owners (TNS Sofres survey, November 2006)
• Lowest cost place in Europe for businesses (KPMG report, 2006)
• 24,748 companies in the Agglomération area
• 5 competitiveness clusters: Orphème, Q@LI-MEDiterranée, Derbi, Disaster Prevention and Trimatec

SUPPORT FOR INNOVATION

• 151 innovation programs supported by Oséo in 2005
• 13 winners of the National Contest for the Creation of Innovative Companies in 2005

CONFERENCES AND EVENTS

• 800,000 delegates and visitors in professional events each year
• Number 1 destination for medical conferences in France
• 3rd leading centre for business tourism

BUSINESS OFFICES AND REAL ESTATE

• 18 business parks for industry, technology, science, and edutainment
• 2 startup incubators: Cap Alpha (3,500 m2) for Life Sciences, and Cap Omega (5,300 m2) for ICT
• 3 flex-space office buildings in Montpellier: Cap Gamma and Cap Delta (7,000 m2 for biopharmacy), Millénaire (4,000 m2 for ICT)
• 2 Villages for Artisan Businesses and Services: Parc 2000 in Montpellier (reduced tax zone) and Hannibal in Cournonsec
• Interim workshops and office space