Campus Cyber LoungeCybersecurity: why is Lille Metropole emerging as a major European hub?
A dense cybersecurity ecosystem, from start-up to world leader
Lille Metropole’s cybersecurity sector dates back to 2007, when the International Cybersecurity Forum (now the InCyber Forum) was launched.
Nearly twenty years later, this positioning has given rise to a complete industry covering the entire value chain – from fundamental R&D to the marketing of solutions.
The strength of this ecosystem lies in the cohabitation of global leaders – Thales, Orange Cyberdefense, OVHcloud, Capgemini – and fast-growing regional companies such as Advens, Hornetsecurity (formerly Vade), Stormshield, Scalair and Claranet.
This density of players creates a unique synergy: project leaders have immediate access to a network of partners, potential customers and talent, in an ecosystem structured by collaborative initiatives such as Syntec Numérique, AD2N and Invest In Digital People.
The digital sector as a whole benefits from this dynamic, with more than 600 companies resident at EuraTechnologies, the city’s digital centre of excellence, ranked in the top 10 European accelerators.
Why set up your cyber business in Lille Metropole?
First of all, the geography. Paris is an hour away by TGV. Brussels 35 minutes away. London is 80 minutes away by Eurostar. Lille metropole is a cross-border crossroads that gives you access to European markets and therefore to your future customers.
Secondly, an innovation ecosystem designed to accelerate your business. EuraTechnologies, one of Europe’s top 10 accelerators, is home to more than 600 companies and supports 200 projects a year in seven areas – including cybersecurity. The Cyber Campus offers dedicated incubation and acceleration services. The CITC provides IoT, AI and cyber experimentation.
And every year, the InCyber Forum offers an international showcase within easy reach.
Finally, talent. Nearly 10% of the population are students. Forty courses specialising in cyber security – from BTS to doctorate level – provide a steady stream of skills. Five research centres of excellence, including the CRISTAL laboratory (CNRS, INRIA, Centrale Lille, Université de Lille), feed upstream innovation.
The Lille ecosystem can also count on the CITC (Centre d’Innovation des Technologies sans Contact). Created in 2009 and initially specialising in IoT, this cluster has broadened its scope to include artificial intelligence and cyber security. It now runs the CSIRT Hauts-de-France, a one-stop shop offering SMEs and local authorities free assistance in the event of a cyber incident. CITC also organises the Digital Innovation Seasons, an annual event that brings together start-ups and tech players to discuss quantum, AI and cyber issues. With over 500 experiments supported since its creation, CITC is a key operational link in the industry.
French Tech Lille runs a network of start-ups and local businesses. Their aim is to create and transform the region’s start-ups into scale-ups, companies with strong international growth potential that create value and, above all, jobs. To achieve this, they are working on four key areas: Finance, Talent, International and “Tech4Good” (sustainable & inclusive technology) through support programmes such as French Tech Central, French Tech Tremplin and French Tech Visa.
French Tech Lille organises a large number of events throughout the year, including Incredible Tech, Amazing Ladies, the Semaine du Numérique en Hauts de France and the Tech&Fab Summit.
The essentialson video
Frequently asked questions
- Why is Lille Metropole considered to be a hub for cyber security in France?
The city is home to more than 200 specialist companies, 7,500 jobs in the sector, France’s first accredited Territorial Cyber Campus and the InCyber Forum, Europe’s leading event dedicated to digital confidence. This unique combination of players, infrastructures and events makes it one of the most complete cyber ecosystems in Europe.
- What is the InCyber Forum and when does it take place in 2026?
The InCyber Forum (formerly FIC) is Europe’s largest event dedicated to cybersecurity and digital trust. Its 18ᵉ edition will be held from 31 March to 2 April 2026 at Lille Grand Palais, with the theme “Mastering our digital dependencies”. In 2025, the event will bring together 18,200 trade visitors, 730 partners, 100 countries represented and 580 speakers.
- How do you go about setting up your cyber business in Lille?
The Invest team at Hello Lille, the Lille European Metropolis Attractiveness Agency, offers free, personalised support in finding premises, putting you in touch with the ecosystem, access to public funding and integration into professional networks.
- Which major cybersecurity companies are based in Lille?
Lille is home to world leaders such as Thales, Orange Cyberdefense, OVHcloud, Capgemini and IBM, alongside leading regional players such as Advens, Hornetsecurity, Stormshield and Scalair. The Cyber Campus also supports innovative start-ups.
2 Sites of Excellence
dedicated to digital technology
EuraTechnologies
A site of excellence dedicated to digital technology and one of Europe’s leading incubators, EuraTechnologies brings together 200 project initiators a year in 6 verticals: PropTech, Retail/E-commerce, Cybersecurity, AgTech/GreenTech, EdTech/HRTech, Industries/Robotics/SpaceTech.
EuraCreative
In Roubaix-Tourcoing, on the theme of creative industries: audiovisual, games, augmented reality and virtual reality, design (serious games/e-learning, animation, digital marketing, events, etc.) and the technologies that complement them.
