Historical Context: The Vision of Pierre Laffitte

In 1969, when Pierre Laffitte first proposed creating a "city of wisdom and science" on the hills above Antibes, the idea seemed almost laughable. France was still rigidly centralized, the Côte d'Azur was for vacation not innovation, and the concept of a technology park was largely unknown in Europe.

But Laffitte, then director of the École des Mines in Paris, saw something others missed. The region had perfect weather for year-round work, proximity to Nice airport for international connections, and enough space to create something entirely new. Most importantly, he understood that talent would come if you offered them not just jobs, but a lifestyle.

"Pierre sold a dream," recalls Jacques Franquin, one of the first engineers to relocate in 1974. "Not just of working in tech, but of living differently. No more grey Parisian winters, no more hourly commutes. You could write code and then swim in the Mediterranean. For engineers of my generation, it was revolutionary."

The name itself—Sophia Antipolis—combined wisdom (Sophia) with Antibes' ancient Greek name (Antipolis). This wasn't accidental. Laffitte envisioned recreating the intellectual ferment of ancient Greece in a modern setting. The reality would prove more complex, but no less interesting.