The southern part of the former Toulouse-Francazal military airbase is being converted into an innovation territory focused on future transport. A public consultation is currently underway, from November 2, 2026 to February 2, 2027, allowing citizens to provide feedback on the project's environmental permit application.
Following the prior consultation in 2023 and the deliberation on April 4, 2024, studies have continued. The future ZAC Campus Francazal is now subject to an environmental permit application. Two public meetings are scheduled for information and debate: on November 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM and on January 26, 2027 at 6:30 PM, both in Cugnaux.
By 2026, the former base will host a Campus for innovative mobility and decarbonized technologies. This laboratory will bring together companies, start-ups, researchers, and students working on green transport, from initial concept to commercialization. The aim is to foster collaboration and business development, diversifying Toulouse's economy beyond aeronautics, space, and health, to include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and environmentally friendly mobility. Francazal is positioned as a major economic hub for the Métropole.
The Francazal site is already a testing ground for future transport such as electric aircraft, autonomous vehicles, and flying cars. Companies like EasyMile (autonomous vehicles), Aura Aero (hybrid-electric aircraft), and Beyond Aero (hydrogen-electric business jet) have already established their activities there, attracting new major industrial groups and creating jobs.
The project also includes the Technocampus Hydrogène, which will be Europe's largest research and testing center dedicated to green hydrogen, operational by late 2025. It will focus on developing future aircraft and hydrogen propulsion engines, improving fuel cells, electrolysis production, and hydrogen storage and transport solutions. This center will house laboratories, industrial partners, start-ups, and an educational platform, with collaborators including the Occitanie region, CNRS, the University of Toulouse, Onera, Safran, Airbus, Liebherr, and Vitesco Technologies.
Beyond its technological focus, the site's redevelopment aims to enhance the quality of life for residents, offering relaxation and walking areas, restaurants, a landscaped park, and new sports facilities. New technologies developed in the business zone can be tested in public spaces. Francazal is part of the VILAGIL program, a recipient of the "Territoires d’Innovation" call for projects, aimed at improving air quality and traffic flow in Toulouse.
The Francazal site covers 38 hectares and is expected to create 2,000 jobs. It has received a subsidy of 1.4 million euros from the Fonds vert-France nation verte.
