Assets and Expertise

In the biotech field, Lyon and Grenoble bring together distinctive yet complementary expertise:

• Lyon, a world reference in diagnostics, vaccines and infectious diseases
• Grenoble, an international center of excellence in nanotechnology and structural biology

With nearly 28,000 biotech jobs, the Rhône-Alpes region is France’s 2nd leading employer in this buoyant sector.

In order to meet the strategic objectives it has set, Lyonbiopôle is drawing upon a comprehensive value chain:

A solid industrial base…

• Merial, world leader in animal biologicals and pharmaceuticals
• sanofi pasteur, world leader in human vaccines
• bioMérieux, world leader in bacteriological diagnostics and 8th worldwide in diagnostics

These 3 firms were founded in the Lyon area.

• BD, (Becton Dickinson headquarters and R&D Europe), located in Grenoble.

Other cluster partners include subsidiaries of major healthcare sector firms such as Genzyme (4th –leading biotech firm in the world). Some of these firms are using micro and nanotechnology in collaboration with experts from the Grenoble area.

… that is continuously renewed thanks to a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a highly attractive region.

Since 1990, some 50 high-potential SMBs and start-ups have been founded in Rhône-Alpes in the life sciences, diagnostics, vaccines and biomed sectors (OPi,  Protein'eXpert, Flamel Technologies, Génopoïetic, Genzyme, Genoway ...)

Significant R&D potential

The region features 2,500 researchers in the field of infectious diseases

- including half in the private sector (50% of sanofi Pasteur’s R&D, 35% of Merial’s, and 60% of bioMérieux’s)

- and half in the public sector (The French National Nuclear Energy Agency (CEA), the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), The French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Claude Bernard University, Lyon Civil Hospitals, Joseph Fourier University and others.)

In Grenoble, there are some 4,000 researchers in micro and nanotechnology (CEA-Leti, Minatec, STMicroelectronics, Philips, Motorola and others), including 300 specialized in healthcare applications (NanoBio).

The cluster also capitalizes on international-scale R&D infrastructures the Jean Mérieux-Inserm Biosafety Level 4 Laboratory in Lyon Gerland, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the Laue-Langevin Institute (ILL) in Grenoble.

An organization for marketing approval of healthcare products

The Lyon laboratory of the French regulatory Agency for Healthcare Product Safety (AFSSAPS) specializes in verifying immunological products before they are put on the market.

A range of training programs tailored to the needs of firms and research centers

Lyon is a major center for training high-level technicians in biological and medical engineering. Training programs in vaccinology, epidemiology, public health and humanitarian professions are provided by various organizations including the Mérieux Foundation, Bioforce, the Biosafety 4 Laboratory and the WHO, as well as major firms such as sanofi pasteur and bioMérieux.

High-level training is also provided:

- in Lyon in the life sciences by the National Graduate School for Scientific Teacher Training (ENS), Claude Bernard University, The Veterinary School, the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA), the Catholic University and others.

- in Grenoble by Joseph Fourier University and others.

Lyonbiopôle is active on dynamic markets

In summary, Lyonbiopôle’s strengths:

1. A cluster focusing on infectious diseases

2. Meeting major health and economic challenges

3. Active on dynamic markets

4. Led by firms, with the active involvement of all key stakeholders within the cluster’s various scopes of action

5. Strongly supported by Greater Lyon, alongside the Rhône-Alpes Region, Grenoble and the French State.