Connecting Lyon with the global vaccine community through the World Vaccine Congress

The World Vaccine Congress Europe, a leading event for vaccine innovation, will bring together international leaders in immunology, public health, and the pharmaceutical industry in Amsterdam from October 19-21, 2026. For Lyon, this edition is particularly strategic, as the city will host the congress for two consecutive years, from 2027 to 2028, at the Lyon Convention Centre, highlighting the international recognition of its biotechnology and life sciences ecosystem.

Understanding the role of the World Vaccine Congress in vaccine innovation

An international event dedicated to vaccine research, development, and manufacturing

The World Vaccine Congress brings together all stakeholders involved in vaccine development, from fundamental research to commercialization. Researchers, biotech companies, pharmaceutical laboratories, manufacturers, public organizations, and investors come together to share the latest scientific and technological advances in the sector.

The event also addresses challenges related to clinical development, industrial manufacturing, international regulations, and new prevention strategies. This comprehensive approach makes it a must-attend event for professionals involved in vaccine innovation.

Major challenges in public health, immunology, and prevention

As new health threats emerge and healthcare needs continue to evolve worldwide, vaccination remains one of the most effective tools for disease prevention. Advances in immunology are paving the way for more effective vaccines, new therapeutic strategies, and improved anticipation of health risks.

The World Vaccine Congress therefore provides a unique platform for discussing the innovations that will shape future public health policies and help address major global prevention challenges.

A strategic event for biotech, pharma, medtech, and public health stakeholders

Beyond its scientific dimension, the congress plays a key role in fostering international collaboration. Biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical firms, medtech organizations, and public health institutions use the event to identify new partnership, funding, and innovation opportunities.

The World Vaccine Congress thus promotes the creation of synergies between research, industry, and investment, which are essential to accelerating the development of new healthcare solutions.

Why the World Vaccine Congress matters to Lyon’s healthcare ecosystem

Lyon selected to host the World Vaccine Congress Europe from 2027 to 2028

Terrapinn, the organizer of the World Vaccine Congress Europe, has selected Lyon to host the event from 2027 to 2028 at the Lyon Convention Centre.

This decision reflects the international recognition of the Lyon region in vaccines, biotechnology, immunology, and healthcare innovation. It also confirms the region’s ability to host world-class scientific and business events that bring together thousands of industry professionals every year.

This designation is the result of a collective effort led by ONLYLYON Invest, ONLYLYON Tourisme et Congrès, the Lyon Metropole, GL events, and Lyonbiopôle. To strengthen the region’s attractiveness and showcase its expertise in the vaccine field, the agency brought together several leading organizations in support of the project, including ENOSIS Santé, ID Cluster, France Vaccins, and France BioLead.

For Lyon, this designation represents an exceptional opportunity to strengthen its international visibility, attract new projects, and showcase regional stakeholders to global healthcare decision-makers.

Local expertise in immunology, infectious diseases, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical manufacturing

The themes explored during the World Vaccine Congress directly align with the expertise developed across the Lyon region. The local ecosystem benefits from recognized strengths in immunology, infectious diseases, biomanufacturing, diagnostics, therapeutic development, and clinical research.

This specialization enables Lyon to play a significant role in shaping the future of healthcare, supported by major industry players such as Sanofi and bioMérieux, as well as a dynamic network of biotech companies, laboratories, and research organizations, actively contributing to scientific advances in prevention and vaccination.

An ecosystem capable of supporting innovative healthcare projects

Beyond its scientific expertise, the Lyon region offers an environment that fosters the growth of innovative companies through world-class research infrastructure, incubators, accelerators, and specialized networks. The ecosystem notably relies on Lyonbiopôle, a leading competitiveness cluster in healthcare, vaccines, biotechnology, and medical technologies, which promotes collaboration among academic, industrial, and institutional stakeholders.

Companies looking to establish or expand their operations in the region can benefit from dedicated support in human resources, recruitment, and skills development to sustain their growth.

The Lyon region also offers tailored solutions for the mobility of international employees, facilitating the attraction and integration of talent essential to healthcare and biotechnology projects.

Showcasing Lyon’s stakeholders on the global vaccine stage

Strengthening the visibility of businesses, laboratories, and institutions

From October 19-21, 2026, in Amsterdam, the World Vaccine Congress Europe will bring together more than 2,000 attendees, 280 speakers, and 150 exhibitors representing the entire global vaccine ecosystem.

The presence of companies and organizations based in the Lyon region, including Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Elicityl, ErVimmune, MGA Technologies, and NETRI, highlights the territory’s strength in immunology, infectious diseases, diagnostics, and biomanufacturing. Their participation helps foster international collaborations and further strengthens Lyon’s position as a future European hub for vaccine innovation, as the city prepares to host the World Vaccine Congress Europe beginning in 2027.

Developing scientific, industrial, and commercial partnerships

Healthcare innovation depends on the ability of stakeholders to collaborate. By bringing together the entire vaccine value chain, the World Vaccine Congress fosters scientific, industrial, and commercial partnerships on a global scale.

For companies in the Lyon region, these interactions represent concrete opportunities to develop new research projects, access new markets, and strengthen their presence within global innovation networks. They also create opportunities for collaboration among companies such as Sanofi, bioMérieux, Boehringer Ingelheim, Aguettant, and Viatris; research and innovation organizations including CIRI, Centre Léon Bérard, IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), and the WHO Academy; public and private R&D centers; as well as leading academic institutions and higher education establishments such as the University of Lyon, ENS de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Centrale Lyon, emlyon business school, and Mines Saint-Étienne. This dynamic fosters new scientific, industrial, and technological collaborations that support vaccine innovation and global health.

Connecting Lyon’s innovation ecosystem with global healthcare challenges through ONLYLYON Invest

Through its participation in major international events, ONLYLYON Invest supports businesses and promotes the region’s strengths to international healthcare and biotechnology stakeholders.

The World Vaccine Congress is fully aligned with this approach. By showcasing the expertise, infrastructure, and innovation capabilities of the Lyon ecosystem, the event helps strengthen the international profile of the Lyon region while generating new opportunities for investment, collaboration, and economic development.

In a sector where innovation and collaboration are essential to addressing global health challenges, Lyon continues to demonstrate its ability to connect research, industry, and entrepreneurship to build the healthcare solutions of tomorrow.