Next week the iEER representatives will be travelling to Hauts-de-France. During the two-day peer visit the group will learn about regional start-up scene in various locations. The agenda consists of visits to the Hauts-de-France regional council, Euratechnologies, Plaine Images and to the Hubhouse of the Catholic University of Lille, the HEMISPH4IRE.
The Hauts-de France region is strategically positioned in the heart of Europe. With nearly six million inhabitants, Hauts-de-France is the third most densely populated region in France, and
also the youngest one. Since 2016, the region is the result of a merger of the former Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardie regions.
Hauts-de-France benefits from a strategic location. It is the only French region combining a seacoast and an international border (with Belgium) as well as an easy access to Paris. From Lille, the regional capital city, the high-speed rail network reach Brussels in 35 minutes and London in one hour and 20 minutes.
Although the region faces a lot of challenges, including high unemployment rate and closure of major industries in the past decades, it has a powerful economy (4th regional economy in France) based on rail and automotive industries, food and health, ICT, advanced materials and green businesses.
