A bridge between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, Franche-Comté is at the gates of Eastern Europe.
Bordering Switzerland and close to Germany and Italy, it has always been an international thoroughfare.

1,150,700 inhabitants
4 departments : Doubs, Jura, Haute-Saône, Territoire de Belfort

A profusion of know-how : 
FIRST INDUSTRIAL REGION IN FRANCE: No. 1 for toys, watch-making, eyewear, woodturning-woodenware and microtechnology
SECOND REGION FOR CUTTING AND DIE STAMPING
MOST WOODED REGION IN FRANCE: 44% of its area is covered by woods and forests.
THIRD REGION FOR THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY : Birthplace of PSA PEUGEOT-CITROEN 2nd largest European car constructor
REGION FOR SURFACE TREATMENT

Four competitiveness clusters :
Microtechnology
Vehicle of the future
Plastipolis – plastics processing
Vitagora - agribusiness 

Research : 
5,840 people work in public and private research
41 research units
2,757 researchers

Training : 
4 MAIN INSTITUTIONS : UNIVERSITY OF FRANCHE-COMTE, ISIFC, ENSMM, UTBM
SPECIFIC TRAINING : THE VICTOR BÉRARD STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN MOREZ, ESPERA SBARRO DESIGN SCHOOL, LYCÉE EDGAR FAURE HIGH SCHOOL in Morteau, THE ENIL BESANÇON MAMIROLLE and ENILBIO OF POLIGNY INSTITUTIONS, CFAI, WOOD COLLEGE IN MOUCHARD

Aware of the riches that their land provides, the people of Franche-Comté shape it with due consideration to their environment.
In so doing they help to maintain the balance between nature and economic development that is in harmony with their living environment.

TECHNOCITIES AND TECHNOLOGY PARKS :
Designed to promote synergy between industry, research and training, the technology parks and techno-cities of Franche-Comté are catalysts for growth for the companies that set up and develop on-site.
Whether general or specific to a sector, these facilities are designed to combine the major stakes of territorial sustainable development and the requirements of global markets. Either ISO 14001 or Arelis certified, quality is the prime objective of all these places’ design.
Franche-Comté offers many opportunities for land at a competitive prices, hosting business incubators and business development centres that provide a wide range of services.

COMPETITIVENESS IN ACTION  :
Innovation, skills development and growth on global markets are the main pillars of the economic policy implemented by the Franche-Comté regional council.
This dynamic backing of businesses is particularly characterised by support for projects developed in competitiveness clusters as well as increased guidance for companies.
Simplified support mechanisms have been put in place to enable the widest access to such schemes. In 2007, 368 projects received backing to the tune of €42 million.