GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

Montpellier's geographical location is exceptional in many ways, offering a gateway to southern Europe and benefiting from numerous international partnerships.

DEMOGRAPHIC GROWTH

Montpellier is one of the French people's three favourite cities for its attractive living and working conditions. Over the past 20 years, Montpellier has grown to become France's 8th largest city. Montpellier is also the city with the highest demographic growth in France, with 43% of the population under 30 years old. Today, the Montpellier agglomeration area has a population of 420,000. According to Insee forecasts this could grow by an additional 300,000 people by 2030.

INNOVATION

The Languedoc-Roussillon region is also endowed with exceptional scientific potential,with numerous universities and the 3rd highest per-capita percentage of public-sector researchers in the country. According to OSEO anvar, Languedoc-Roussillon is the number one region in France (outside Paris), in terms of innovative company creation. Winning first prize in a prestigious international contest, the Montpellier Agglomération Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) was chosen as Incubator of the Year by the National Business Incubator Association in Seattle, WA in April 2007.

STRATEGIC JOBS AND BRAINPOWER

Montpellier is France's third most significant urban area (excluding Paris) in terms of strategic jobs - those involving the highest brainpower potential, right behind Grenoble and Toulouse. With 63,000 students enrolled each year in the city's higher educational institutions, Montpellier is ensured a high-quality available workforce.

LOW COST OF DOING BUSINESS

Montpellier was designated as the lowest cost city in Europe for setting up a company (KPMG report, 2006).

APPEAL

The Montpellier Agglomération area was selected by 77% of surveyed managers and business owners as being a place where they would like to come work (TNS Sofres survey, November 2006).

QUALITY OF LIFE

Life goes on when the Montpellier work-day is done. Ideally located 7 km from Mediterranean beaches - a true paradise for water sports such as kite surfing, wind surfing, and boating, and just a quick drive to the Cévennes mountains, Montpellier also offers a world-class cultural atmosphere (Montpellier Dance Festival, Montpellier-Radio France Music Festival, Mediterranean Film Festival...), exceptional public infrastructure (Musée Fabre, Odysseum, Antigone Olympic swimming pool, Corum conference centre and concert hall, Zénith Sud auditorium...), and a top-quality transportation network complete with one operational tramway line, another opening at the end of 2006, and a third line scheduled for 2010.