A Business France Delegation Visiting Eastern France

For the third consecutive year, a Business France delegation visited Eastern France. On the agenda: discovering the economic gems of southern Champagne, Marne, and Ardennes. During this trip, our team could highlight the excellence of its industrial sectors, innovation clusters, and unique lifestyle. Over three days, the delegation explored cutting-edge companies and sectors of excellence. It also discovered a region where tradition and modernity coexist harmoniously.  

DAY 1 – Southern Champagne, a blend of historical expertise and innocation

Southern Champagne, traditionally known for its textile industry, has successfully reinvented itself by focusing on the industries of tomorrow. Today, the region excels in a variety of sectors: healthcare, cosmetics, agri-food, logistics, Industry X.0, textiles and leather, the bioeconomy, and energy.  

Southern Champagne also has modern infrastructure to support the establishment of new businesses. Among them, the Aube Technopole Park, the Grand Troyes Industrial Park, and the Aube Logistics Park are key locations for future projects.  

The Business France delegation started with the visit of Bioserenity, a leader in connected medical devices and innovative services in electrophysiology. The delegation could also discover Le LAB. This infreastructure a unique research and development center. Le LAB designs and produces of medical and paramedical textiles in collaboration with healthcare professionals.   

We concluded the visit with a Champagne tasting at the Cellier Saint-Pierre to highlightthe wine-growing heritage of the Aube region.

DAY 2 – The Ardennes, a land of industry, heritage, and future

The second day was devoted to discovering the Ardennes. This department is situated the crossroads of Europe, close to major capitals and economic hubs. With its decarbonated energy mix and many real estate opportunities, the Ardennes is a perfect spot for industry and innovation.  

The delegation started the day with the visit of Ardennes CN. This company specializes in computer-aided design (CAD/CAM) subcontracting for cutting-edge sectors such as aeronautics, defense, and nuclear power.   

The visit was followed by a cocktail lunch at the Musée de l’Ardenne. Our delegation could meet the Mayor Boris Ravignon, which elaborated on the historical ties between the Ardennes and the United States.  

In the afternoon, our team featured a visit to the Stellantis plant in Villers-Semeuse. This plant represents a key player in the regional economy with more than 2,200 employees. It is also undergoing a major transition, with a strategic shift towards electric vehicles. This initiative is in line with the environmental challenges and industry of the future supported by the Grand Est region.  

A tour of the historic center of Reims was organized at the end of the day.

 DAY 3 – Marne, land of Champagne and more…  

We concluded this trip with a visit to Marne, a department known worldwide for its Champagne, but not only. The territorry has also specialized in sectors such as agri-food, bioeconomy, and research. Thanks to a network of innovative companies and an environment conducive to energy transition, Marne has a great potential for future projects.

The next morning, the delegation headed to Vatry XCR airport. There, they could visit the test center of the start-up Latitude, which specializes in the design of space launchers. This immersion offered a glimpse of the unique opportunities Marne offers to companies at the forefront of innovation.  

The afternoon was devoted to a visit to the European Center for Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (CEBB). This center is located on the Pomacle-Bazancourt platform, Europe’s most integrated biorefinery. While there, the delegation also attended a presentation on the Innovact incubator and the Quest for Bioeconomy network. These structures already support more than 40 start-ups that are developing solutions to facilitate the transition to a bioeconomy. 

Eastern France – A strategic region at the heart of Europe  

Throughout the three days of visits, one common theme emerged: the region’s strategic advantage, at the heart of Europe, and its innovative ecosystem, conducive to the development of ambitious projects. Companies in the region work in synergy in key sectors for the future, supported by a skilled workforce and modern infrastructure.  

Many thanks you to our partners Business Sud Champagne, Ardennes Développement, Marne Développement, and Le Grand Reims for their collaboration and co-construction of this program. Thanks to their commitment, this mission has highlighted the economic, industrial, and human assets of the Grand Est region!