Our missions

Pays d’Aix Développement (PAD) is the economic development agency of the Aix region. For more than 25 years, it has supported French and foreign companies in the area.

From start-up to installation, PAD helps and supports a company’s creation and development. The agency brings together all the collaborators of local economic development, public and private.

As an economic player in the region, Pays d’Aix Développement is also supported by two historical public partners : the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis and the Sud-Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region.

The team, made up of 11 collaborators from the private sector, is responsive and available to meet your needs.

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Establishment and development in the territory

Pays d’Aix Développement is the preferred contact for your establishment or development needs in the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolis. From case engineering to organizing site visits, PAD supports business leaders at every stage of the project.

Thanks to its network of public and private partners, an average of 200 locations and 2,898 jobs are supported each year in the region.

Financing through a seed fund for technological and innovative start-ups

Since 2003, PAD has been managing a seed fund for technological and innovative start-ups from the region wishing to set up in area of the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolis: the Aix-Marseille-Provence Priming (AMPA).

This fund consists of a zero-interest loan of up to 40,000 euros.

The AMPA enables the promoters of technological and innovative projects to finance technical and market studies, patents, prototypes, etc. leading to the creation and set up of the company.

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Accommodation in Business Incubators and Business Hotels

Since 2015, PAD has also managed the Network of Innovative Business Incubators and Hotels in the Pays d’Aix region. This network includes four establishments dedicated to hosting technology startups:

2 Innovative Business Incubators in Pertuis and Meyreuil
2 Business Hotels in Canet de Meyreuil and Gardanne.