Choiseul Rankings: Historic Industries and Emerging Sectors Reinforce the South's Economy

The photograph presented by the Choiseul Institute confirms what undoubtedly constitutes the specific character of Provence Alpes ôte d'Azur: a very diversified economy and, consequently, capable of being robust, agile and enduring because it is more capable of turning its back to face crises, with one sector then taking over from the other. Recognized for its health ecosystem, it has also been for thousands of years for its industry – particularly that of perfumes – and has been able to give rise to some young technological shoots.

The South has managed to maintain its fundamentals over time and the evolution of the economy: the industry is still present and has been able to take the turn towards innovation and decarbonization. Marselle-Fos-Berre has become the demonstrator of the green industry, attracting numerous projects, green steel, hydrogen, e-SAF, supported by a Grand Maritime Port which has been able to anticipate needs which allows it today to be an essential link in this large-scale change. While following in the footsteps of innovation can be a challenge, major manufacturers have taken the plunge which allows them to stay ahead of the curve, like Villa Blu, the incubator of the perfumer specializing in natural products, Robertet, present in the ranking with its operating partner, Elliott Betito. The industry also includes mid-sized companies like the Ippolito Group, headed by Pierre Ippolito, who is also the Economy Manager of the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis and the City of Nice. There are also SMEs, such as Europliage, a metallurgical gem run by Stanislas Lepeltier.

Among the other specificities of the territory is its ability to have been able to maintain family businesses. Not always an easy exercise, but from the Chocolaterie de Puyricard, born in 1967, today managed by Solène Roelandts in Diffazur, a specialist in gunite swimming pools whose deputy general director is the representative of the third generation, Adrien Saget, through the Renaudi Group, a public works company which has taken on board Anthony Renaudi and his sister Clémence Renaudi or the Virbac veterinary laboratory, all have the particularity of having succeeded in passing the hand from generation to generation, while retaining the original state of mind and not turning our back on innovation.

Innovation is also the subject of young shoots. A sector that has been extremely flourishing, but which has also become structured, bringing out real gems despite the difficulties that do not spare start-ups. Pess Energy and its battery generators managed by Rémi Pillot, Legapass, legaltech imagined by Jean-Charles Chemin, Mycophyto and its mycorrhizal fungi discovered by Justine Lipuma are some of the examples of young innovative companies that have found their place in their market, both domestic and global.

A regional economy which is also quite supported by certain institutions like Rising Sud headed by Audrey Brun-Rabuel, very active in increasing the attractiveness of the territory. Or the University of Côte d’Azur, where one of its economics professors, Maxime Menuet, was nominated for the Best Young Economist of the Year prize.

Machine-translated from French