A trusted territory

The Val d’Oise is a privileged territory. Just a few kilometres north of Paris, at the heart of the Ile-de-France, Europe’s leading economic region, it is a true gateway to the world. Located on the main strategic European transport flow routes (for both freight and passengers), it is part of the Grand Paris initiative. With the creation of a new port (Confluence Seine-Oise) and the «Grand Paris Express» automatic metro, the Val d’Oise is an ever-more dynamic and competitive territory that responds to today’s issues.
In terms of cultural heritage in the Val d’Oise, one only need mention the Château de La Roche-Guyon, Auvers-sur- Oise and the Valley of the Impressionists, Royaumont Abbey, the Châteaux d’Ecouen and the Châteaux de Méry-sur-Oise to get a sense of its wealth.

The enhancement of this heritage has long been one of the priorities of the Val d’Oise Departmental Council. The department’s cultural identity is the perfect environment for new initiatives as well as the development of business tourism.

A remarkable academic
fabric

11 universities with around 30,000 students in Val d’Oise. The Paris-Seine Association of universities and higher education institutions (Communauté d’Université et d’Etablissements, COMUE) and the University of Cergy- Pontoise offer more than 180 diplomas with 22 research centres. Renowned engineering institutes covering all fields of excellence (ENSEA1, EISTI, ENSAPC, EBI, ISTOM, ECAM-EPMI)

are located in the urban community of Cergy-Pontoise with their numerous state-of-theart laboratories and research centres. A prestigious business and management institute: ESSEC, International Business School, has been established in the Val d’Oise since 1973.

A gateway to the world

The privileged geographic location of the Val d’Oise largely explains the scale of its economic growth: its location in the north of Paris makes it an almost essential port of call for trade with Northern Europe as well as the main European ports thanks to the Oise and Seine rivers.
The Val d’Oise also has a dense railway coverage, with 4 RER lines and 2 SNCF networks. Besides its proximity to Paris, the international nature of the Val d’Oise is strengthened by the presence of Paris-Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport (the leading airport in continental Europe) and the CDG TGV airport railway station, which provide fast and easy connections for air and rail passengers to and from the major French and European cities.

 (1) ENSEA : École nationale supérieure de l’électronique et de ses applications, 
EISTI : École internationale des sciences du traitement de l’information, 
ENSAPC : École nationale supérieure d’arts de Paris-Cergy, 
EBI : École de biologie industrielle, 
ISTOM : École Supérieure d’Agro-Développement International, 
ECAM-EPMI : École Supérieure d’Ingénieurs en Génie Électrique, Productique et Management Industriel.

Innovation and development Through its 9 competitiveness clusters (Advancity, ASTech Paris Région, Cap Digital Paris Région, Cosmetic Valley, Elastopôle, Finance Innovation, Medicen Paris Région, Mov’eo, System@tic Paris Région) active in the area, the Val d’Oise aims to encourage synergies between companies, higher education establishments, and public and private research organisations in order to launch projects in the field of economic development, innovation and international cooperation.

It is also home to Europe’s leading business airport, Paris Le Bourget.
The A1, A16 and A15 motorways provide a fast connection to Paris and La Défense, as well as the ports of Rouen, Le Havre, Calais and the Channel Tunnel to London, as well as the major cities in Northern Europe. Finally, the «Francilienne» expressway facilitates access to Roissy Charles de Gaulle International Airport.

Economic and technological assets

Although its economic fabric is primarily composed of SMEs-SMIs, the Val d’Oise is home to a considerable number of large companies that play a crucial role in its economic vitality. Renowned industrial groups have chosen the Val d’Oise for their head offices, with more than 1,200 international companies in 180 business parks, along with associated services.
With a long industrial tradition and a young and qualified workforce, the department has expanded over 20 years to comprise more than 85,000 paid employment positions.
The business sectors in the Val d’Oise come under areas of excellence: aeronautics and airport services, cosmetics, onboard electronic systems, scientific and technological instrumentation, security and risk management applications, environmental technologies, transport and logistics, and the automotive industry.
The Val d’Oise also benefits from the actions of 9 competitiveness clusters, accredited by the Government, in the fields of complex software and systems, health and biotechnology, imaging, multimedia and digital life, road safety and

sustainable mobility, aeronautics and space, the finance industry, rubbers and polymers, cosmetics and urban development.

A connected region that sponsors major projects

The Val d’Oise promotes developmental projects within the framework of the Grand Paris initiative through transport infrastructure as well as major facilities and projects on an international scale for trade and business

tourism (Aéroville, Roissy Park International, Paris Nord 2, International Trade Center, Europa City).
On the cutting edge of new technologies, the complete very high-speed telecommunications coverage of the territory should be finalised by 2020.

Territorial diversity

The Val d’Oise offers numerous opportunities for companies to establish a presence in its highly diversified areas that are nonetheless easily accessible from centre of Paris and Paris-Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Support services are available to facilitate investment projects in six major areas:Vexin, Agglomération de Cergy-Pontoise, Pays de France, Vallée de Montmorency, Rives de Seine et Plaine de France.

The Val d’Oise has property possibilities in urban and rural areas, including within the two Regional Nature Parks. It offers a comprehensive range of real estate products: offices, warehouses, laboratories, commercial premises, industrial buildings, business centres and incubators.

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