Perpignan the capital of the pyrnesorientales department in the south of france has been historically known for its agricultural and wine industries but in recent years there has been a growing interest in technology and innovation in the city entrepreneurs have been taking advantage of the citys location which is just a stones throw away from the spanish border and the vibrant city of barcelona the population of perpignan is just over 120000 making it a relatively small city however the citys location in the south of france and its proximity to both the mediterranean sea and the pyrenees mountains make it an attractive place to live and work in terms of technological innovations perpignan has a thriving digital sector with startups focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence blockchain and cybersecurity companies like odos a cybersecurity company and tenevia which focuses on energy management solutions have both been founded in the area the city has a rich cultural heritage and is famous for its festivals including the festival of saint joan which takes place on the summer solstice and the visa pour limage a photography festival that attracts visitors from around the world the living wage in perpignan is approximately 1200 per month which is lower than the national average in france the unemployment rate in the city is also higher than the national average at around 13 despite these setbacks perpignan still has a gdp of over 9 billion and the rate of new companies starting and ending is relatively stable the local government has been investing in infrastructure and supporting initiatives to attract and retain entrepreneurs in the area which has helped to create a supportive environment for startups all things considered perpignan is a city that is ripe with opportunities for entrepreneurs with a growing digital sector a supportive local government and a vibrant cultural scene it is no wonder that more and more startups are choosing to call this city home