Boosting attractiveness and reindustrialising the local area

One of the regions leading the way

Boosting the attractiveness of territories is key in driving long-term economic development and reindustrialising the Grand Est region. Supporting territories in their transformation to become more competitive, helping them in their development and in attracting businesses and investment: the agency works to encourage new industries to set up business in the region, generate sustainable employment, showcase local expertise and boost the economic resilience of our region in the face of major transition and global crises. Grand Est Développement also works with economic development and innovation stakeholders in the Grand Est region.

Are you a territory undergoing transformation?

Boost the attractiveness of territories and reindustrialise them

Grand Est Développement is also involved in complementary schemes to boost attractiveness:

FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND REINDUSTRIALISATION

Boost relocations and reindustrialisation, develop foreign investment

The agency creates and rolls out a strategy for prospecting international investments, based on the specific needs of a territory and the advantages it has to offer. It develops international networks such as hubs to strengthen bilateral relations with certain countries.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a decisive role in the Grand Est’s regional economy. The proactive policy to attract companies initiated by the local authorities several decades ago has generated a significant return on investment for the region: some 2,500 foreign-owned firms are based in the Grand Est and employ 135,000 people (source: Business France/ Orbis 2023), representing one of the biggest concentrations in France.

For several years now, the Grand Est has been in the top 3 most attractive regions for FDI, as shown by the latest EY attractiveness survey published in 2024, which rated the Grand Est as the 3rd region in France and the 9th region for the whole of Europe.

TRANSFORMATION OF LOCAL AREAS

Support the transformation of local areas faced with changes

The agency supports the Grand Est region in creating and rolling out regional programmes for the transformation of local areas. It identifies and rallies providers of solutions who are able to support local environmental and energy transformation projects, and supports the introduction of new digital uses in local areas. Grand Est Développement is a partner of the Interreg Europe programme (2023/2027) Debuting project.

REAL ESTATE

Develop attractive and adapted ‘new generation’ real estate schemes

To address the major constraints that the real estate sector is facing, including the ZAN law, Grand Est Développement is working on regional strategy and supporting local authorities in developing new models for business parks that can accommodate new companies and industries settling or relocating to the region, focused on competitiveness, attractiveness and sustainability.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

Drive changes in purchasing practices

Grand Est Développement is in charge of the ‘Charte Régionale de la Commande Publique’ (Regional public procurement charter), which unites public purchasers who are committed to public procurement that supports sustainable economic development. This collective effort involves contributions from experts, workshops and sharing good practices.

MOTIVATING ECOSYSTEMS

Showcase the region and its ecosystems

In partnership with ecosystem stakeholders, and thanks to funding from multiple partners and public and private sponsors, Grand Est Développement organises defining, value creation events in the Grand Est region, with the goal of creating new opportunities for collaboration, developing the network and informing the region’s private and public stakeholders of policies and support for innovation and transformation. These events include:

• 360 Grand Est
• The ‘Prix de la Transformation Grand Est’ prize

The agency can also organise tailor-made events for territories called the ‘Salon des Solutions’ business conventions that aim to associate transformation solutions with needs.

Finally, Grand Est Développement leads 3 clubs: the Club Territoires, the Club Enterprises and the ESRI (Higher Education, Research and Innovation) Club.