Large or small, local firms have a long tradition of innovation

Fed by a fertile academic and technological environment, the small and medium-sized companies and large industrial groups operating in Grenoble-Isère constitute a highly diverse economic fabric, lively, balanced and open.
Grenoble-Isère is well known for the numerous links between industry, universities and research. In the recent past this synergy has given rise to industrial activities such as magnets, turbines, electronic components, and hydro-electric and civil nuclear power.
The same is true nowadays for micro and nanotechnology, integrated circuits, metals, materials, biotechnologies, all of which illustrate Grenoble's present contribution to the emergence of new activities.

Advanced technology firms and industrial groups operating in Grenoble-Isère are among world market leaders, thanks, at least in part, to research they have been able to transfer.
Traditional industry in Grenoble-Isère also benefits from the rich economic fabric to vie with the world's best in fields such as textile, paper-making and mechanical engineering. 

 

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Top notch subcontractors and services

The presence of big names in industry and research has given rise to a wide range of subcontractors to suit the demands of international production techniques and technological innovation.
Rhône-Alpes has a well established reputation for mechanical engineering, precision metal-working, plastics and boilermaking.
In addition Grenoble-Isère has special skills acquired through subcontracting design, technical studies, industrial computing and prototyping services, in addition to work on specific materials and electronics.

 

Strategic jobs:

This is the second largest centre in France for upper-echelon metropolitan functions, with 28, 200 people working in information technology and computing, public and industrial research, industrial sales, management and services.

 

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Jobs by sector of activity

462,400 jobs in key sectors of activity
(source: ASSEDIC/AEPI 2006)

 

Isère	Jobs	(%)
Privat services	220,800	47.8
Public services	102,000	22.1
Industry	95,500	20.7
Construction	31,000	6.7
Agriculture	7,900	1.7
Energy and water	5,2000	1.1

 

Industry: main industrial activities

95 500 emplois dans l'industrie
(sources ASSEDIC/AEPI-2006)

Industrial sectors	Jobs	Companies
Metal working, metallurgy and foundry	13 750	ASCOMETAL, BOXAL, FEDERAL MOGUL, GINDRE DUCHAVANY, PATURLE, ALCAN PACKAGING, BONPERTUIS, WHEELABRATOR
Machines and equipment, automotive equipment	13 000	CATERPILLAR, VALEO, TECUMSEH EUROPE, ALSTOM, TYCO ELECTRONICS, POMA, SAMES TECHNOLOGIES, VICARB, CELETTE, APPLIED MATERIALS, ALLIMAND
Machines and electric devices	10 300	SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, MGE UPS SYSTEM, SIEMENS TRANSMISSION ET DISTRIBUTION, ARNOULD FAE, RADIALL, DATA SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS,ATRAL, PRYSMIAN ENERGIE CABLES
Components, electronic equipment	9 700	STMICROELECTRONICS, SOITEC, E2V SEMICONDUCTORS, PHOTOWATT INTERNATIONAL, THALES ELECTRON DEVICES, THALES AVIONICS, TRIXELL, SOFRADIR
Agrifood	8 400	SODIALL (Candia Yoplait), AOSTE, DANONE, MARTINET, PASQUIER, SOVIBA, TEISSEIRE
Chiemicals, parachemicals, pharmaceuticals	6 700	ARKEMA, RHODIA, CONDAT, CEZUS, BECKER INDUSTRIE, ADISSEO, STEPAN, BIOMERIEUX, PATHEON France, FINORGA, SKYEPHARMA
Plastics and rubber	5 300	A. RAYMOND, UNIDECOR, HUTCHINSON, ALLIBERT, REXOR, REXAM
Measuring instruments and medical equipments	5 200	BD, FRESENIUS VIAL, TYCO HEALTHCARE, KIS
Paper, carton and wood	4 900	AVERY DENNISON, PAPETERIES de LANCEY, ARJOWIGGINS, AHLSTROM, OTOR
Consumer electrics, sports gear, furniture and misc	4 300	CALOR, QUIKSILVER-ROSSIGNOL, PETZL, RENOLUX, ERARD
TTechnical textiles	3 700	PORCHER, HEXCEL, MERMET, SOFILETA, FERRARI
Computer hardware	3 100	HP, BULL
Builduig materials	3 100	VICAT, LAFARGE, EUROFLOAT, XELLA THERMOPIERRE
Printing and editing	2 700	DAUPHINE LIBERE, IMPRIMERIE 2 PONTS, GLENAT
Garments, footwear	1 300	KARTING, MARESE, PLAYTEX, RICHARD PONTVERT

 

 

More info on following sectors of activity

 

Agriculture

7,900 jobs in agriculture
(source: AEPI 2006)

Forest area: 274 000 ha
Cultivated area: 251 000 ha
Farms: 8 800
Cereal production: 25% of cultivated land
Beef livestock: 30%
Fruit production: 40%

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