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Editorial by Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis
May 2017
Innovation does not stop at France's borders
The Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis, which now features among the 10 leading smart cities in the world, has been built up around a very dense international ecosystem. This has been in its DNA for a very long time…
In this globalised context, Nice Airport is a considerable asset: it is France's third biggest airport in terms of passenger traffic, and the second biggest in terms of commercial and business aviation traffic. This hub enables businesses in the metropolitan area and the Alpes-Maritimes Department, but also in the Principality of Monaco, Liguria and Piedmont, to expand and innovate in a cross-border territory with many fruitful interconnections.
Our start-ups, our SMEs and all of our businesses must be able to take full advantage of this openness to an international market that encompasses Europe, the Mediterranean and beyond, the rest of the world.
This geography gives rise to many opportunities and it is my duty to provide the necessary support to our business people so that they can fully exploit them.
The Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis has bet on innovation in all sectors and it was very natural for us to put ourselves forward for the European Capital of Innovation award.
This candidacy is shared by all of our municipalities. Between the sea and the mountains, in both urban and rural settings, the citizens of our territory are at the heart of our project which aims to create a smarter and more sustainable world.
