What’s new on the export front?

With 4.2% of their turnover generated from exports, French architects rank second in Europe * behind the United Kingdom. They are sought after, among other things, for the conceptual strength of their projects, their expertise on specific subjects (cultural buildings, public spaces, etc.) as well as for their ability to adapt to the local context.

Nevertheless, these export performances could improve: 65% of architects who answered the AFEX questionnaire distributed by the National Council of the Order of Architects, working exclusively in France, would like to export.

There are many obstacles to exporting: difficulty in accessing relevant information on markets and calls for tenders, small size of agencies, lack of an export strategy, etc. The lack of data on the turnover and the characteristics of the exporting agencies are also an obstacle in the support of the public authorities to architects who would like to export.

Therefore, several areas of development can be imagined to strengthen the potential of French architecture for export.

This leads to a series of proposals among which we will retain, among others:

Define a series of target countries and markets in which to focus the action of architects and their public and private partners;

Integrate the international and export dimension into initial and permanent training;

Adapt and publicize export support systems

Strengthen the mobilization of the diplomatic network and raise awareness among public officials posted abroad

Support professional networks and support their initiatives, in particular the reception of young professionals in French agencies (and vice versa) and the evolution of AFEX towards a "French RIBA" type organization

Find a summary of the study below, which will be available in its formalized version in the summer.

* In turnover volume

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PARTIE I