Paris Convention Bureau – Health & Research, a sector of excellence

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Organize your major health-focused events within the Paris ecosystem featuring specialist venues and state-of-the-art facilities for events of the highest standard

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Health and research in Paris: a sector of excellence that boosts your congresses and MICE events

Paris Expo Porte de Versailles © Viparis Bullit Studio

Every year, Paris hosts more than 1,200 congresses and professional events in the fields of healthcare, life sciences and biomedical research. Consistently ranked amongst the world’s leading destinations for medical congresses according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the French capital provides everything you need within a single destination to make your MICE event a global success.

From oncology and cardiology to neuroscience, biotechnology, digital health and pharmaceutical research … whatever your specialism, Paris boasts a scientific, hospital and events ecosystem that is unrivalled in Europe. This is where the world’s leading researchers, clinicians, industrialists and global health policymakers come together to bring about change.

More than just a sector, healthcare in Paris is a joint effort centred on people-focused medicine and research carried out at the highest level and innovation that transforms the life of patients.

Paris Health and Research in figures

#1
Leading destination for international medical congresses (ICCA Rankings) & regional leader for R&D investment (€22 bn / year)
40+/ 60+
40+/ 60+ World-class research centres & specialist biotech centres
38
University hospitals including AP-HP, the biggest European hospital network (3 500 research projects)

380 000+
Researchers, students and health professionals in Greater Paris
600+ / 1 500+
Start-ups, biotech companies and 1,500 medical devices companies
70%
National venture capital attracted by start-ups in the Île-de-France region

Ecosystem
Public-private collaboration in Greater Paris (Bpifrance, Sofinnova, Kurma, Eurazeo) & clusters (Medicen, Genopole, Silver Valley)
International status
Major healthcare events (SantExpo, Medintechs, HealthTech Innovation Days)
Accessibility & infrastructures
3 airports (350+ towns and cities) and the Grand Paris Express (200 km of automated metro by 2030)

An exceptional scientific ecosystem

Paris and the Île-de-France are home to the world’s highest concentration of medical expertise and biomedical research. Your participants will thrive in a region where science is part of everyday life, in institutions that have shaped the history of medicine.

World-class institutions & clusters

© MedTechFrance

A rich terrain for your speakers and scientific content

When you organize your conference in Paris, you benefit from a unique concentration of internationally recognized experts
— Nobel Prize, members of the Académie de Médecine, KOL (Key Opinion Leaders) pharmaceuticals — available locally to enhance your scientific programmes, your satellite symposiums satellites or your plenary sessions.

World-class MICE infrastructures

Paris offers a comprehensive and modular range of event facilities, from large plenary halls seating several thousand people to more intimate spaces for your scientific committee meetings or practical workshops (medical simulation, workshops)

Place/ Venue
Capacity
Characteristics
≤ 4 000 people
Plenary room + 80 meeting rooms — a major hub for international medical congresses, Porte Maillot (Paris 17th)
≤ 200 000 m² of exhibition space
Europe’s largest exhibition centre within a city — international trade fairs, healthcare and medtech conferences, and large-scale hybrid events
≤ 1 700 people
An iconic auditorium in the heart of the Latin Quarter — scientific congresses, medical conferences, and premier academic events
≤ 900 people
Situated in the heart of the Quartier Latin — an academic venue for high-level scientific and medical congresses
≤ 2 000 people
Immersive and modular spaces — conferences, scientific exhibitions and healthcare innovation events
≤ 300 people
Within the Pitié-Salpêtrière — a leading centre for neuroscience, hosting specialist scientific conferences
≤ 500 people
Modern university hospital lecture theatres — medical congresses and clinical training courses
≤ 6 000 people
A multipurpose hybrid space — professional events, healthcare congresses and large-scale formats at Porte de la Villette

Paris Convention Bureau: your strategic partner

Paris Convention Bureau, an official body attached to Paris je t’aime – Tourist Office, provides free assistance to MICE event planners at every stage of their project — from the bid stage to personalized support for actions linked to legacy and putting event planners in contact with local service providers.

Services offered:

  • Support during the bid process for international congresses
  • Selection and visits of event venues adapted to the healthcare sector
  • Connecting event planners with medical associations and learned Parisian societies
  • Identification of speakers and local scientific experts
  • Negotiation of hotel room blocks for delegates
  • Paris Health Destination promotional tools and bid kit
  • Access to market data (attendance levels, ROI, benchmark)
  • Advice on available financing and grants (Île-de-France region, EU Health Programme)
Vue en hauteur de Paris - Seine - tour Eiffel

Get started on your health-related event project in Paris today

Our Sector of Excellence team is on hand to provide you with free support at every stage of your project
CONTACT US

Accessibility and attractiveness: outstanding advantages

Choosing Paris as the venue for your medical conference goes beyond simply hosting a scientific meeting. It guarantees your participants an exceptional all-round experience, from the moment they arrive to their last gala dinner.

Avion
3 international airports (CDG, Orly, Beauvais) — more than 350 direct flight destinations.
Train
Eurostar London (2hr15), Thalys Brussels (1hr22), Amsterdam (3hr20) — 5 major TGV train stations.
Hébergement
87 000+ rooms in Greater Paris including palaces and 5-star hotels for international congresses.
Restauration
10 000 restaurants, 1 500 cafés and exceptional venues — tailor-made experiences for events.
Patrimoine
Heritage & side events
Louvre, Versailles, Seine, Catacombes — unique cultural experiences for international events.
Durabilité
Low-carbon transport, local caterers, eco-venues — Paris, a leader in environmentally-friendly events in Europe.
Photo des trophées du Paris Leaders Club

Paris Leaders Club — The network of Paris science ambassadors

Created in 2016 by Viparis and Paris je t'aime – Tourist Office, the Paris Leaders Club is a network of leading French scientists and researchers involved in the organization of international congresses. In the fields of healthcare and research, these leading experts – professors, clinicians and researchers – play a crucial role in championing bids in their respective disciplines in Paris and vouching for their scientific credibility to international bodies.
READ MORE

They chose Paris for their healthcare or medical event

The world’s biggest medical events have put their trust in Paris, including the European Society of Cardiology (ESC Congress — 35 000 participants) the World Congress of Neurology, the SIDA (IAS) or the European Cancer Summit. Join a community of organizations that have built their scientific reputation thanks to Parisian excellence.

ESC Congress (European Society of Cardiology)

35 000 participants, Parc des Expositions Paris Le Bourget

World AIDS Conference (IAS)

20 000+ delegates, Palais des Congrès & Paris Expo Porte de Versailles

European Cancer Summit

Political and scientific leaders, hybrid format within the city of Paris
Auditorium - Palais des Congrès de Paris

Journées Françaises de Radiologie (JFR)

15 000 participants, Palais des Congrès de Paris

Paris Healthcare Week

Annual Strategic Forum for stakeholders in e-health and digital hospitals

❓Frequently asked questions

Why choose Paris for a medical or scientific congress?

Paris has a world-class scientific ecosystem (AP-HP, Pasteur, Curie, Inserm, CNRS, CEA, universities), a range of conference centres meeting international standards, exceptional airport and rail accessibility, and cultural attractions that maximize attendance rates of foreign delegates.

What venues are suitable for my congresses and healthcare conventions?

According to maximum capacity: Palais des Congrès de Paris (up to 3 700 places in a plenary session), Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (more than 30 000 delegates), Paris Convention Centre, CNIT Forest, Carrousel du Louvre, Cité des Sciences, Académie Nationale de Médecine, Maison de la Chimie. For advisory boards and smaller formats, institutional venues and hôtels particuliers complete the offering.

What capacities are available for major international congresses?

The Palais des Congrès hosts up to 3 700 people for a plenary session. Paris Expo Porte de Versailles can host up to 30 000 delegates across all its pavilions, with accompanying exhibitions and symposia. Several other venues host intermediate-sized congresses from 200 to 10 000 participants.

Does the Paris Convention Bureau charge a fee for its services?

No. The Convention Bureau’s assistance is free of charge, impartial and does not involve any commercial undertaking. Our mission is to promote the organization of congresses and professional events in Paris.

How far in advance of the event is it advisable to start preparing?

For a major international congress, we recommend starting preparations 24 to 36 months in advance (submitting an application to the learned society, selecting a venue, rallying institutional support). For a pharma convention or an advisory board, 6 to 12 months are generally sufficient.

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