Montpellier Métropole is a stronghold for Global Health, CCIs, digital technologies, carbon-free energy, as well as cybersecurity.
The cybersecurity ecosystem was showcased on October 17 at an event organized by Montpellier Métropole, Cyber’occ, and the Hérault Association of Mayors and Presidents of Inter-municipalities (AMF 34), at the Montpellier Métropole building: Cybersecurity Conference (Rencontres de la Cybersécurité), whereFrench Tech Méditerranée was well represented. Cybersecurity was presented to local city councils, businesses, and the general public, with a focus on solutions available to protect data from cyber-attacks.
About ten companies in the Montpellier metropolitan area focus on cybersecurity. Several of them have developed such effective tools that they are now considered leaders in their sector.That is the case, for example, with Septeo. Based in Lattes since it was founded in 2013, the Septeo group has become the 8th largest software publisher in France, with 3,000 employees, and a reference in Europe.
The number-one provider of solutions for legal and accounting professionals (lawyers, judicial commissioners, chartered accountants, etc.), notaries, and real estate professionals, this cybersecurity powerhouse is now opening up to new sectors such as the hotel and outdoor hospitality industries.
As explained on their website, “Even if we are not always visible, we are present: behind weddings, property purchases, professional development, travel, and much more.”
Another driving force in the sector: SECLAB. Based in Montpellier, SECLAB is an internationally renowned company specializing in the security of critical industrial and IT systems, such as nuclear, military, telecom, space, and rail. The company secures the communication systems that control railroad switches and many other sensitive systems.
SECLAB offers solutions for isolating everything connecting to physical systems via the Internet. Its expertise is strategic. In January 2024, Michel Van Den Berghe, President of Cyber Campus (the emblematic site that unites the main national and international players in the field), joined the company’s capital structure alongside the Ministry of Defense’s Definvest fund managed by Bpifrance, Banque Postale through its 115K fund, and Thales Group, alongside the company’s founders, including shareholder CTO Xavier Facelina.
With a staff of 25 people, the company designs and manufactures the hardware for its solutions in Montpellier. Its future is therefore firmly ensured under the French flag, while its production remains “Made in Montpellier”!
Pradeo is another key player in the area’s cyber ecosystem. Incubated by Montpellier BIC, the company is a pioneer in mobile security and has become one of the world leaders in its sector. Its tools are integrated in Microsoft Intune, Workspace One, Samsung Knox Manage, Samsung SDS EMM, and Ivanti.
With offices abroad, the company diversified into security for web applications, acquiring the Rennes-based company Yagaan two years ago. With a staff of about fifty employees, it recently joined forces with ERCOM and ITS Ibelem to further strengthen the protection of mobile terminals against cyberthreats.
That makes three leaders in the greater Montpellier area. But they are not the only ones. There are also many other driving forces locally. One example is Ziwit, which was also assisted in its early days by Montpellier BIC, and Devensys Cybersécurité, a company that works for SEPTEO as well as Banque de France, Swile, and Quantum Surgical, just to name a few.
Other companies include SI Cloud, SNS Security, Bonjour Cyber, OVEA,Tixeo, and, of course, Acelys Services Numériques. Founded in 1997, this multi-activity digital services specialist, now based in theEureka cluster, describes itself as “the leading independent player in digital services in the Montpellier metropolitan area.” The company’s customers include CDC Habitat,Orange, and theOrchestra group. CertifiedISO 27001, it recently received the EcoVadis silver medal, a distinction that reflects its sustainable and ethical commitment to the environment, human rights, ethics, and responsible sourcing.
“The innovation ecosystem in the Montpellier metropolitan area stimulates the development of disruptive startups,”points out Sébastien Lacaze, president of French Tech Méditerranée (250 members in the Hérault and Gard departments) and founder of the Montpellier startup Lookup Geoscience.
The cybersecurity sector is a prime example.
