KEY SECTORS - INDUSTRY
Alongside the textiles industry, the metals industry, processing and mechanical metallurgy rapidly became Lille's second-largest economic flagship with the Compagnie Fives-Lille bridges and locomotives factory. To support this activity, major metals construction establishments moved into the area, such as the chemicals industry with Kuhlmann.
Despite the decline in the 1950s, the region has remained the most favourable to the development of industrial activities, which now account for 20% of the region's employment.
10% of France's manufacturing jobs (CCI Hauts-de-France)
11,000 establishments (CCI Hauts-de-France)
Atelier 57: SNCF's biggest train renovation centre, this 4.0 factory focuses on all technology solutions dedicated to train renovation and modernisation.
World Forum: the World Forum for a Responsible Economy is an annual programme of events that aim to create a responsible global economy, raising awareness about the "Best Practices of businesses that, all over the world, operate in a responsible way.
A dream talent pool with 43% of the population aged under 30 (Insee RGP 2015)
A region for experimentation at the crossroads of major European road axes
10% of French engineers trained in our region
Team²: the only competitiveness cluster dedicated to circularity through recycling
Although Lille's historic heritage is linked mainly to textiles, this activity still plays a significant role in the region despite opening up to competition and globalisation. Thanks to this expertise, the Hauts-de-France region is now ranked No. 2 French region for manufacturing technical textiles with more than 3,300 dedicated jobs. (CCI Hauts-de-France). It must be said that everything is in place to ensure the successful development of the sector: 21,300 hectares dedicated to producing flax, the favoured material for technical textiles production, as well as 17% of European textile engineers trained in the region.
In addition to so-called traditional production activities, the entire industry is structured around environmental concerns. Companies in the sector, supported by the CETI (European Centre for Innovative Textiles), are all encouraged to take a circular economy and zero waste approach, with the industry producing 1,700,000 tonnes of waste each year.
Euramaterials, a cluster serving the materials transformation industries, helps young initiatives in the area and sees them through to maturity thanks to its incubation programme.
And hence at the heart of transportation concerns.
It must be said that with its strategic position at the crossroads of five European capitals, the Hauts-de-France region offers a dense transportation network. This is also what led to it being chosen for as the location for seven automotive production plants, making it the No. 2 region in France for the automotive industry, already being the No. 1 region for the rail industry.
Overall, no fewer than 60,000 employees work on developing transportation solutions.
That is why Mobivia, an international group from the Mulliez galaxy, chose the city of Lille to set up its incubator via ID, dedicated to new transportation solutions. With Inria the national institute for science research and digital technologies, and the 78 training programmes awarded the Grandes Ecoles Numériques label, the entire region invests in research in order to decongest urban centres and adopt cleaner modes of transport.
As a true model of resilience, the region is an area of incredible experimentation for new modes of transport, with the markets driven by Alstom, Bombardier, Siemens, Eurotunnel, PSA, Renault and Toyota.
Furthermore, the presence of the University of Lille's Cristal laboratory, which works in particular on the control and supervision of large systems, integrated systems design and data, coupled with the Lille region's high level of digital skill, make it fertile ground for innovation.
Because the Hauts-de-France region is a resolutely industrial region, it is indissociable from an environmentally friendly approach. With the challenges of cleaner industry and a healthier economy being of utmost concern in global strategies, it is more important than ever to identify all possible changes that can be achieved. Our region's manufacturing activities contribute to pollution, a consequence that needs to be stamped out whatever the cost.
Team² provides student and professional engineers to find solutions, and successfully convinces the big companies concerned to transform their processes.
Currently, materials obtained from recycling are considered more and more like real materials, and more like secondary materials. This awareness can be seen across the region with the intelligent deconstruction of buildings (half of the region's waste).
Other younger companies are targeting the transportation segment, creating traceability or data security applications to optimise the life span of parts and vehicles. These start-ups can be found at EuraTechnologies, the incubator that acts as a precursor for French Tech, which has already supported more than 300 tech start-ups.
An economy led by more responsible companies, and sustainable equipment made from recycled materials, this is the aim of the region's 700 eco-businesses, which make it the No. 4 region in France for the green economy..
cluster serving the materials transformation industries. It works with companies and researchers to enable them to find solutions, perform and grow.
Awarded the label in 2010, TEAM2 is the only national innovation hub for recycling that stimulates, supports and promotes industries dedicated to production and use of new resources, thanks to its expertise and its network of industrial, scientific and institutional partners.
The city of Lille's centre of excellence dedicated to fresh, local produce and the associated logistics. Its aim: to boost the creation of innovative businesses and jobs in the field of fresh produce in the region.
12,000 m² serving businesses to encourage and accelerate innovation. It is a place for designing, experimenting, prototyping and industrialising new products, materials and processes meeting the needs of global industry. CETI collaborates with producers, major brands and retailers in the worlds of fashion, sport, luxury goods and technical textiles. Its international dimension places it among the Top 5 of the world's technical centres.
Accelerating the transition to more environmentally friendly practices, its aim is to facilitate the adoption of more energy efficient and ecological methods in the regional economy of Hauts-de-France and beyond.
230,810 m² of office space let in 2019 - the total floor area allocated by 362 companies who have purchased property in the city. And what if you also found your premises with us ?
Numerous companies have joined the industrial heritage of the Lille metropolis. We have been able to accompany some of them:
A project to set up in Europe, France, or the European Metropolis of Lille?