| 
  ICT
Nantes stands out as a reference urban area in the world of information and communications technologies. International leaders such as Accenture Technology Solutions or Steria have chosen Nantes for their development. The presence of major local purchasers, the rich source of IT skills, high-tech research and the dynamism of local networks are assets that Nantes Métropole can provide businesses in the sector.
With 18 000 jobs and 1500 businesses, the ICT sector has a significant influence on the local economy.
Nantes Métropole is now one of the urban areas in France with the highest concentration of businesses in the ICT sector, both in terms of the number of jobs and the number of establishments. Between 1997 and 2005 the sector saw significant growth, registering an additional 55% of jobs as opposed to 32.4% on average in other major French urban areas and 16.4% nationally.
A complete ICT environment
The territory benefits from major actors and innovative SMEs along the whole ICT value chain: information systems consulting, software edition and solution integration, electronic data or programming processing and management and multimedia content editing. The recent arrivals of French or European leaders such as Accenture Technolgy Solutions (ATS), the Sword group and the Benchmark group and the development of major actors already present in Nantes such as Steria, Eurogiciel, or Proservia show the vitality of the sector and the place that Nantes occupies in the ICT world.
The presence of major principals locally is contributing significantly to the development of the sector. Financial services, high technology companies (Airbus, Magellan, Alcatel, France Telecom, etc.) and public services (General Taxation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Criminal Records Register, SNCF passenger information services department, etc.) are users of IT services and new technologies. A source of skills
With nearly 2200 students training in IT each year, Nantes Métropole enables ICT businesses to recruit new employees easily. Each year Nantes University, the grandes écoles and lycées (secondary/high schools) train students in IT to 2-year and 5-year post high school leaving diploma level. The attraction of Nantes Métropole is also contributing to bringing in new talents, especially managers from Paris. The employment basin's recruitment potential plays a fundamental role in the dynamism of ICT in Nantes Métropole.
Companies can be in several minds when it comes to choosing between several cities. But when the response to specifications and market studies make the difference, the choice becomes much easier. Steria is investing in Nantes’ potential. | 
