Developing the economy and the region

As Brittany's second-largest city, Brest stands out for its strategic government functions linked to the sea and defense, higher education and research, the CHRU hospital, decision-making centers, export companies, a Scène nationale...

Brest métropole is also :

• the leading Breton port,
• the leading Breton airport,
• a TGV train station,
• free highways linking Brest to Paris via Rennes or Nantes,
• major metropolitan facilities that regularly host international professional events bringing together the world's leading specialists across a wide range of fields.

Brest and its surrounding area form a dynamic, diversified economic space, supported by leading-edge companies and sectors that are recognized on national and international markets:

• military and civil naval industry,
• agriculture and agri-food industry,
• health, banking and insurance,
• marine science and technology,
• digital technologies...

Public-sector employment is high, with a strong presence in public administration, the Marine nationale, healthcare, and higher education and research.

Brest métropole and its partners enjoy fruitful cooperation with neighbouring areas:

• the Loire-Bretagne metropolitan cluster, with Rennes, Nantes, and Angers,
• the Pays de Brest metropolitan cluster,
• the French Tech Capital Brest + initiative involving Brest, Lannion, Morlaix, and Quimper,
• the reciprocity contract with Pays Centre Ouest Bretagne,
• the Campus mondial de la mer, which builds on the dynamics of Brest, Roscoff, Morlaix, Quimper, and Concarneau to expand internationally,
• the Territoires d'industrie Finistère single contract.

Since 2016, a Metropolitan Economic Development Strategy (SMDE) has brought together the region's driving forces around a collective ambition: to lift the economy of the Brest employment area to the top ranks of attractiveness and competitiveness. This strategy is shared by all the region's public and private economic actors: local authorities, public operators, consular chambers, higher education and research organizations, economic networks, international groups, and even small and medium-sized businesses.

All share the conviction that this territory has what it takes to offer the best living conditions for its residents and the best development conditions for its businesses. This conviction is reflected in the territory's positioning "Brest, the Free Spirit," and the Brest Life brand, the symbol of the collective approach to enhancing the region's attractiveness and hospitality.

In 2022, the "CAP 2030" SMDE upgraded the ambitions of this territory, which withstood the worst of health and economic crises, and emerged stronger than ever. The tourism sector, in particular, has been the subject of specific reflection, resulting in the conception of a dedicated strategy.

In response to the challenges identified by the SMDE, numerous actions have been implemented in recent years:

• Brest Life, an attractiveness initiative which is the fruit of a territorial marketing strategy and includes the creation of the Brest Life Recruiters Network. This network brings together 190 employers who work together to make their employment opportunities more attractive and make it easier for spouses to find a job.
• Frameworks to encourage the establishment of new commercial activities and development aid for business parks. The aim is to support the establishment of new businesses in up-and-coming neighborhoods through new types of business incubators, as well as the transformation of existing facilities to adapt them to the needs of businesses.
• Supporting entrepreneurs, project leaders, and other actions which aim to encourage entrepreneurial vocations. Working in partnership with entrepreneurial actors and professional networks makes it possible to provide the right information and refer people to the right contacts. This collective intelligence is also put to good use to provide novice project leaders with the keys to success, notably during an annual two-week event dedicated to entrepreneurship.
• Calls for projects to support innovation and employment in the field of digital, ecological, or societal transitions, to address local issues...
   

Economic sectors can be divided into two categories:

• The "core" sectors are those that have made a major contribution to the development of our region, and many of which help to forge the image and reputation of a region of excellence.
• Emerging sectors are more recent, and often more cross-functional. Building on existing skills and know-how, they harbor considerable development potential.
  Whether they're established or emerging, linked to the region's intimate history or to the global revolution in digital technologies, these areas of activity all have one thing in common: they provide fertile ground for innovation.