Over the past three days, Hance and Europe visited an industrial trade fair in western France, meeting companies across a range of sectors and identifying new opportunities for cooperation between French and Korean industries.
Based in the Pays de la Loire region, Hance and Europe sees firsthand the industrial potential of western France. The region has a diverse industrial base spanning energy transition, digital technologies, advanced materials, agri-food, aerospace and shipbuilding. Offshore renewable energy and hydrogen are also becoming increasingly important areas of development.
One of the highlights of the trade fair was a roundtable entitled “Grands Projets d’investissement sur la production d’énergies décarbonées” (Major Investment Projects in Decarbonised Energy Production), bringing together EDF, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Loire Estuary Decarbonisation Association and other industry stakeholders.
The central message was clear: the energy transition cannot be achieved by individual companies acting alone. It requires coordinated efforts across the industrial ecosystem, local institutions and entire supply chains.
The discussion also highlighted regional investment plans and funding designed to support the industrial transition in western France.
France’s Energy Transition: A Major Industrial Opportunity
These regional initiatives are part of a broader national transformation. In 2025, France’s electricity transmission system operator, RTE, announced a major investment plan to modernise the country’s high- and extra-high-voltage electricity grid by 2040. The plan envisages approximately €100 billion in investment over 15 years to connect low-carbon electricity generation facilities with industrial sites and accommodate the country’s evolving energy needs.
This is more than an infrastructure upgrade. It represents a long-term industrial transformation, supporting France’s decarbonisation objectives, energy security and industrial competitiveness.
Such projects create potential opportunities across a wide range of activities, including electrical equipment, grid technologies, industrial engineering, energy storage, digital solutions and specialised manufacturing. They also require reliable suppliers and long-term industrial partnerships.
For Korean companies with proven manufacturing capabilities and technological expertise, these developments offer an opportunity to explore how their strengths could contribute to France’s evolving industrial needs.
A New Chapter in France–Korea Industrial Cooperation
2026 is also an important year for bilateral relations between France and Korea. The two countries have continued to strengthen their partnership through high-level diplomatic engagement, with industrial cooperation and competitiveness among the areas of shared interest.
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This momentum creates a favourable context for bringing the two industrial ecosystems closer together.
France has established industrial clusters, ambitious decarbonisation plans and growing demand for technologies and equipment that support its energy transition. Korea, meanwhile, has internationally recognised capabilities in advanced manufacturing, engineering, electronics, shipbuilding and energy-related technologies.
The opportunity lies in connecting these complementary strengths with concrete industrial needs.
For Korean companies, this means looking beyond exporting products to identifying local partners, integrating into European supply chains and developing a long-term presence in the French market. For French companies, collaboration with Korean businesses can provide access to complementary technologies, manufacturing expertise and new opportunities for industrial development.
Why Western France Matters
The regional dimension of this cooperation deserves particular attention.
Centred around Nantes and Saint-Nazaire, the industrial and port ecosystem of western France plays an important role in the region’s manufacturing, maritime and logistics activities. The area is also closely connected to the development of offshore renewable energy and the wider energy transition.
For Korean companies looking to establish or expand their presence in Europe, this ecosystem offers a valuable starting point for understanding regional industrial needs, identifying potential partners and exploring opportunities to participate in local supply chains.
Successful market entry, however, requires more than identifying promising sectors. It involves understanding the local business environment, building relationships with the right stakeholders and aligning a company’s capabilities with the specific needs of French industry.
This is where regional connections can make a meaningful difference.
Connecting Korean Companies with France’s Industrial Ecosystem
At Hance and Europe, we aim to strengthen connections between Korean companies and the French industrial ecosystem, not only in Île-de-France and the Paris region, but also in Pays de la Loire and other industrial regions across France.
We see western France as a region with significant potential for Korean businesses seeking to explore new markets, develop industrial partnerships and identify investment opportunities in Europe.
Our objective is to help bridge the gap between industrial demand and technological expertise, turning promising connections into tangible business opportunities and long-term partnerships.
The future of France–Korea industrial cooperation will depend not only on national strategies, but also on the ability of companies and regional ecosystems to work together on the ground.
Western France is one place where these connections can take shape. At Hance and Europe, we are committed to helping Korean and French companies discover their complementary strengths and build sustainable industrial partnerships that create value for both sides.