Nice: From Riviera icon to investment vanguard

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Nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean, Nice has evolved from a postcard-perfect coastal retreat into one of Europe’s most compelling investment frontiers. In 2024, the city reached a new milestone, unveiling a bold portfolio of green infrastructure, sector diversification, and international partnerships. Today, it blends cultural depth with economic ambition and a clear path toward sustainable, innovation-led growth.

“We’re building a city that’s intellectually vibrant, environmentally responsible, and economically dynamic,” says Mayor Christian Estrosi. Hervé Laubertie, Director of Team Nice Côte d’Azur, echoes this shift, “Most people still associate Nice with turquoise waters and luxury holidays. But it’s rapidly becoming one of Europe’s top destinations for business, innovation, and sustainability.”

Strategically located at the cross roads of Europe and the Mediterranean, Nice is strengthening glob al ties – particularly with the U.S., Middle East, and Asia – to drive growth in technology, finance, and tourism. While tourism remains a key pillar, the city has cultivated a diverse economy anchored in high tech, healthcare, clean energy, and finance.

With a GDP exceeding $56 billion in 2024 and excellent international connectivity – with France’s second-busiest international airport, high-speed TGV links, and major trans-European routes – Nice is emerging as a globally integrated business and innovation hub.

Tech-driven transformation

Nice is far more than a sun drenched conference center – it is emerging as a force in Europe’s innovation economy, particularly in AI, life sciences, clean energy, and digital infrastructure. Anchored by the Eco-Vallée development and proximity to Sophia Antipolis – Europe’s largest tech park – the city is attracting global investment and attention.

U.S. companies in cleantech, biotech, and AI are increasingly choosing Nice not just as a foot hold in Europe, but as a launchpad. “American firms are finding more support for their innovations here than at home,” says Laubertie.

Sophia Antipolis hosts over 2,500 companies and 40,000 employees across AI, biotech, cybersecurity, and climate tech. Within Nice, innovation districts like the IMREDD campus and Health Innovation Park are drawing major players like IBM, GE, and Cisco, along with fast-scaling startups.

Firms such as global animal health leader Virbac have even relocated R&D operations from as far as Australia.

Team Nice Côte d’Azur

Team Nice Côte d’Azur – the official investment promotion agency for the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis has one mission: to shift the narrative from tourism hotspot to business powerhouse. The agency is redefining the French Riviera’s image: not just as a place to re lax, but as a place to build and innovate.

“Nice has become a strategic base for international business,” says Laubertie. “Our role is to make investment frictionless, from legal setup, talent recruitment to integration into innovation networks.”

Structured as a public-private partnership, Team Nice Côte d’Azur acts as a full-service gate way for international investors. The region already hosts more than 1,400 foreign-owned firms, spanning tech, finance, life sciences, and clean energy.

Laubertie has sharpened the agency’s global outreach, with a strong focus on North America, the Nordics, North Africa, and Asia. As a result, the Côte d’Azur is now firmly on the radar of companies seeking a high-value gateway to Southern Europe and the wider Mediterranean market.

Green and blue innovation hub

Few cities are as directly exposed or as responsive to climate change as Nice. Sustainability is not just a policy; it is central to the city’s economic identity. “Environmental innovation is both a moral imperative and an economic driver,” says Laubertie. Flagship initiatives range from green buildings to blue economy ventures focused on water, biodiversity, and resilience.

Haliotis 2, an $820 million waste water treatment plant opening in 2026, is one of Europe’s most advanced. It will generate energy from organic waste, eliminate microplastics, and recycle water for industrial and agricultural use. Estrosi calls it “a benchmark project” for ecological innovation.

Urban transformation

Nice is embedding sustainability into its urban fabric, centered on the 15-minute city model – where daily needs are met within a short, eco-friendly commute. The tram network spans 27 km, and new mobility hubs, bioclimatic bus corridors, and 1,500 km of planned bike lanes reflect the city’s shift toward green transport. Cruise ship traffic has been cut by two-thirds, and all municipal transit is moving to electric and biogas systems.

Urban renewal is accelerating. Projects like Ecovallée and Nice Méridia are becoming testbeds for cleantech and green innovation, while the Promenade du Paillon and Plaine du Var are being re imagined as major urban parks. Thousands of new eco-certified homes in Méridia mark a new chapter in inclusive, climate-resilient development.

Real assets and soft power

Nice’s reinvention extends into finance, real estate, and culture – quietly shifting its investment pro file. In 2024, the financial and property sectors posted steady gains, with the Côte d’Azur emerging as a discreet yet attractive destination for fintech, ESG-aligned real estate, and wealth management.

Luxury property sales are rising, fueled by limited supply and strong demand from northern Europe and the U.S. Buyers are drawn by Nice’s climate resilience, quality of life, and investment-ready assets – from green housing in Méridia to premium commercial space in Ecovallée. National support adds momentum, with state funding now backing industrial innovation and the energy transition.

Looking ahead, Nice offers more than opportunity. It offers alignment – with European values, climate goals, and a future-ready economy. In an era defined by volatility and urgency, Nice stands out as a rare combination: stability with momentum, beauty with intelligence, heritage with ambition. As Laubertie says, “Nice Côte d’Azur is more than a beautiful destination; it’s a strategic hub for global ambition.” Estrosi reinforces this vision: “Nice is no longer merely gazing at the sea – it’s focused on the future.”