Economy

The territory of the Urban Community of Dunkerque historically based its economy on industry: metallurgy, agroprocessing and maintenance industry, merchant port economic activity, logistics and energy. All of this industrial activity has left its mark on the land.

Prove it is possible to develop industry while conquering and preserving an environment of quality through sustainable development, this is the prime objective of the Urban Community of Dunkerque.

To this end, and as outlined in the contract signed with the Region (Local Economic Development Plan), the Urban Community has determined a number of objectives and priorities for its territory.

A strategic plan has been launched for each one of the main sectors of economic activity. Its aim is to reinforce existing economic sectors (logistics, energy, industrial maintenance) and help new ones emerge in order to promote the territory along with its key economic sectors by undertaking and successfully completing major projects. One field which is being given top priority is High Quality Environment (HQE) and eco-friendly construction.

Because nowadays, the future of businesses largely depends on their capacity to anticipate and innovate, the Urban Community of Dunkerque has placed innovation and fundamental research at the top of its priorities.  Its wish is to raise general awareness of the opportunities at stake in this matter and in order to do so it has opted for a strategy aiming to reinforce the innovative capacities of local businesses.

In addition to supporting and sponsoring businesses in this undertaking, the Urban Community is engaged in several projects aiming to develop local innovative business ventures. One of its purposes is to set strong objectives in the field of industrial development and integrate them in the local economy so they become a source of inspiration for a more competitive and attractive image of local entrepreneurship and help it achieve national and international status. To this end, the Urban Community of Dunkerque is helping set up the central laboratory of the Research Institute for Industrial Development (IRENI), endorsed by the CNRS. This project, whose finality is research on the quality of air, transfer of technologies in the field of industrial development and the training of highly-qualified engineers and technicians specialized in industrial development, is a partnership between: the Ecole des Mines of Douai, the University of Artois, the University of Science and Technology of Lille, the University of Law and Health of Lille, the University of the Littoral/ Côte d’Opale.

Moreover, the Urban Community of Dunkerque wishes to make the most of the planned construction of a methane gas terminal in the port of Dunkerque to encourage local innovative ventures, and is consequently envisaging the creation of a Research and Development Centre including transfer of technology dedicated to low temperature refrigeration using the cold produced by the terminal.

The creation of new economic sectors and the development of an entrepreneurial spirit constitute another priority for the Urban Community of Dunkerque, whose ambition is to become an entrepreneurial territory. The final objective is to establish the logical idea of an entrepreneurial chain: encouraging public awareness from secondary school to University and helping entrepreneurs develop their projects from very small businesses to small size companies.
However the idea of sustainable economic development naturally supposes everyone will be able to participate and reap the benefits of it.

Therefore, the Urban Community of Dunkerque has placed social cohesion, work opportunities and solidarity at the heart of its concerns. Its prime objective is to ensure that those having the most trouble getting a job will benefit from proper counselling and assistance in their search for employment. This is why the Urban Community of Dunkerque has invested in help centres for job creation and professional insertion (such as la Maison de l’Emploi de l’agglomération dunkerquoise (employment centre for the Dunkerque agglomeration) and the association Entreprendre Ensemble (social centre for professional insertion). Approximately € 1,200,000 is spent each year by the Urban Community of Dunkerque to support local employment centres.