Lyon Wins Official French Tech Title

LYON, FRANCE--(Marketwired - Dec 16, 2014) - The city of LYON, FRANCE, internationally recognized as a strategic business and cultural center, is now an official French Tech City. Axlle Lemaire, French Secretary of State in charge of high-tech, has confirmed this title, underlining LYON as a business development hub and providing additional opportunities designed to spur growth in the start-up industry.

Already recognized for clusters in the life-science, clean energy and cultural sectors, Lyon is a vibrant metropolitan city with global appeal. The city is also host to the Festival of Lights, which attracts millions of people each year.

Amid the complex economic situation faced by most of France, the economy in Lyon is strong. The city is the number one producer of energy and top industrial urban area in France. With 42% of the 1.3 million people living in Lyon less than 25 years old, the region is poised for continued growth. 

The French Tech initiative is designed to drive growth and international outreach for start-ups, further positioning France in this sector. 200 million euro will be invested in start-up development with 15 million euro earmarked for international marketing and promotion. Start-up acceleration will be encouraged through accompaniment programs, access to infrastructure and networking opportunities.

Lyon was selected by the Minister of the Economy thanks to the success already achieved in the high-tech sector including:

• an active entrepreneurial ecosystem;
• an ambitious development strategy (within three years 100 new start-ups will participate in an accelerator program);
• programs and infrastructure in place to fast-track start-up growth, visibility and development.

These milestones are the result of collective mobilization in the digital ecosystem and a culture of innovation, experimentation and entrepreneurship in the greater Lyon area. The French Tech recognition proves that in Lyon, favorable conditions have been created for start-ups to emerge and develop internationally. Alliances with key cities like Boston, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Montreal, Canton, Amsterdam and Barcelona are already underway, and the French Tech label will help the city explore this further.

"Becoming an official French Tech city positions Lyon as a strategic region both within France and internationally," shares Karine Dognin-Sauze, Vice-President of Innovation. "We are excited about the opportunities this new label, and the funding that comes along with it, will provide high-tech start-ups in Lyon."

The high-tech key figures in Lyon:

• 7,000 companies, including 300 with high growth potential
• 42,000 jobs in the high-tech sector
• 3 million euro raised since 2012
• 15 companies have raised 1M over the last 3 years
• 600 digital events each year
• 1 Digital Space Enterprises (ENE)
• 5 accelerators for start-ups
• 8 incubators, 7 spaces of co-working, 3 poles of competitiveness and 3 clusters of competency, 2 fablabs, 1 living lab
• 600 university courses digital identified at the regional scale

The Lyon area, France's second largest digital hub, has over 4,000 digital companies providing 42,000 jobs and EUR3,5 billion in sales.

French Tech is a major collective mobilization to spur the growth and notoriety of French digital start-ups. The goal is to put France clearly on the world map by fostering the emergence of true world champions.