This paper analyses the relocation of R&D establishments between French’s Zones d’Emploi in the 2008 to 2010 period. We find that small size establishments predominate in these relocations, which occur mostly around major urban areas and in a short distance from the original location (although a negative relation between distance and size seems to exist). Lastly, estimates from a gravity model for origin-destination flows show that the main determinants of the relocation of R&D establishments include agglomeration economies, labour market characteristics, institutional features, transport infrastructures and educational levels. However, there are substantial differences in the way these variables affect intra- and inter-ZdE flows.