Choose France 2026: why Lyon is strengthening its key role in France’s attractiveness
Choose France 2026 highlights France’s ability to attract international investors, industrial projects, and innovative companies. Lyon plays a strategic role in this momentum thanks to its economic ecosystem, leading industries, talent pool, and connections to European markets. For companies looking to establish operations, invest, or accelerate their growth in France, the Lyon region offers a strong gateway that is competitive, accessible, and innovation-driven.
Why does Choose France 2026 confirm France’s economic attractiveness?
A strategic event showcasing international investment
Since its launch, the Choose France Summit has become a must-attend event for promoting France’s economic attractiveness among business leaders and investors from around the world. The event showcases the country’s strengths in innovation, industry, research, the green transition, and economic development.
Each edition provides a unique platform for highlighting international investment opportunities in France and fostering dialogue among companies, regions, and institutional stakeholders. Beyond investment announcements, Choose France helps increase the visibility of France’s economic ecosystems and showcases regions capable of hosting ambitious development projects.
Projects strengthening industry, innovation, and the green transition
Projects presented as part of Choose France cover a wide range of strategic sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, chemicals, digital technologies, mobility, energy, and environmental technologies.
These investments contribute to the development of new production capacity, the creation of skilled jobs, and the acceleration of innovation. They also demonstrate the confidence that international companies place in France when seeking high-performing, connected, and competitive ecosystems.
Against a backdrop of industrial transformation and the green transition, attracting international investors has become a major driver of growth for French regions.
Nationwide momentum supporting international and growing companies
France offers widely recognized advantages, including access to the European market, high-quality infrastructure, world-class research, and a skilled workforce.
This momentum creates a supportive environment for international investors in France seeking regions that can provide long-term support for their development. The challenge is no longer simply to attract investment, but to offer an environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth.
In this context, major urban areas that combine expertise, infrastructure, and personalized support hold a particularly attractive position.
Lyon, a key region in the Choose France 2026 initiative
An economic ecosystem built around leading industries
Lyon is home to one of Europe’s most dynamic economic ecosystems. The region stands out for the diversity of its leading industries, including healthcare and life sciences, digital technologies, manufacturing, mobility, cleantech, energy, and the creative industries.
This strength is driven by close collaboration among major corporations, mid-sized companies, innovative SMEs, startups, research laboratories, and higher education institutions such as INSA Lyon, Centrale Lyon, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Mines Saint-Étienne, and emlyon business school. Thanks to this high concentration of stakeholders, Lyon provides an especially favorable environment for companies establishing operations in France.
Lyon’s attractiveness also extends internationally. As part of the Choose France initiative, Lyon will take center stage in Berlin on September 22, 2026, at an event organized by Business France Germany. The Lyon region will present its strengths and investment opportunities to German business leaders, confirming its position as a leading destination for companies looking to grow their operations in Europe.
Hosted at the Residence of the French Embassy in Berlin, this local edition of Choose France will bring together leading representatives from the business and political communities to discuss European economic sovereignty. The discussions will focus in particular on the investments needed to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, and strategic autonomy. The Lyon delegation will include SAMSON France, an industrial company with a strong presence in the region.
This initiative builds on the international economic promotion activities led by ONLYLYON Invest and its partners. A few months earlier, on July 1, 2026, an initial Choose France event was held in London to promote France and the Lyon region among British investors and business leaders.
Hosted at the Maison de l’Institut de France, the event highlighted several strategic industries in the region, particularly healthcare, biotechnology, and cleantech. Lyon-based organizations included Hospices Civils de Lyon, represented by its innovation platform and its director, Noéline Clavier, as well as MCatalysis, represented by its founder and CEO, Michael Irwin. Their participation illustrated the dynamism of the regional ecosystem and the opportunities available to investors.
Talent, infrastructure, and partners supporting investment projects
One of Lyon’s main strengths is its ability to support companies at every stage of their development.
With its universities, leading higher education institutions, research laboratories, and innovation clusters, the region provides access to a deep pool of talent. Its research organizations include CIRI, CRCL, and CRNL in healthcare, as well as IRCELYON, ICL, and ICBMS in chemistry. Its competitiveness clusters include Lyonbiopôle, AXELERA, Minalogic, Tenerrdis, and CARA. This concentration of expertise fosters innovation and helps companies meet their recruitment and technological development needs.
The Lyon region also benefits from world-class infrastructure, including high-speed rail connections, Lyon-Saint Exupéry International Airport, efficient road and river logistics platforms, and high-quality digital connectivity. These assets facilitate access to Europe’s major markets.
Companies can also rely on an extensive network of business, institutional, and academic partners that contribute to the success of their investment and expansion projects.
A strategic location for growth in France and Europe
Located at the crossroads of major European economic corridors, Lyon provides direct access to a market of more than 500 million consumers. The region is home to a high concentration of corporate headquarters, decision-making centers, industrial partners, and potential customers, supporting the commercial growth of both French and international companies.
Combining a dynamic economy, recognized quality of life, and a high-performing innovation ecosystem, Lyon offers an attractive environment for companies looking to establish a regional headquarters, research center, production site, or sales operation. This combination of strengths has continued to reinforce Lyon’s appeal to international investors.
Invest and establish your business in Lyon with ONLYLYON Invest
Identify the right opportunities for your industry and project
The success of an investment project depends on a thorough understanding of the local ecosystem and the opportunities available.
Whether a company is establishing its first presence, developing a subsidiary, or creating an innovation center, ONLYLYON Invest helps identify solutions tailored to its objectives and industry.
Drawing on its in-depth knowledge of the region, the team helps investors identify the most relevant opportunities and move their projects forward more quickly.
Connect with the right partners for real estate, talent, funding, and innovation
Access to the right contacts is a key success factor for any company establishing operations in France.
ONLYLYON Invest connects companies with public- and private-sector stakeholders across the region, including commercial real estate experts, training organizations, higher education institutions, research centers, innovation networks, and institutional partners.
This guidance and support allows companies to save time and quickly access the resources they need to grow.
Simplify the first steps of establishing and developing your business
Establishing operations in a new country involves many practical steps, including finding suitable premises, recruiting talent, understanding the regulatory environment, and identifying local partners.
ONLYLYON Invest supports companies at every stage, simplifying their establishment and helping them grow in the Lyon region. This customized approach allows investors to focus on their strategic priorities while benefiting from recognized local expertise and support.
As Choose France 2026 confirms France’s economic attractiveness among international investors, Lyon stands out more than ever as a leading destination for doing business, innovating, and growing in Europe. With its leading industries, infrastructure, talent pool, and dedicated support services, the Lyon region provides an especially favorable environment for investment and growth projects.