Why Lyon stands out as a business investment destination in France?

Investing in Lyon means choosing a location that combines economic dynamism, innovation, highly skilled talent, and exceptional quality of life. At the crossroads of major French and European markets, Lyon provides companies with an environment that supports expansion, recruitment, partnerships, and long-term growth. Compared with other locations in France, the Lyon region stands out for the diversity of its leading industries, the strength of its economic ecosystem, and its ability to support investment projects ranging from cutting-edge innovation to large-scale industrial development.

Why invest in Lyon instead of other French cities?

A strategic location at the heart of French, European, and global markets

Lyon enjoys a unique geographic position at the center of Europe’s major trade and transportation routes. Located on the corridor connecting Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, and close to key markets such as Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Spain, the Lyon region enables companies to reach both national and international markets efficiently.

This accessibility is supported by high-performance multimodal infrastructure, including three airports, four high-speed rail stations, one of France’s largest inland ports, and a highway network connected to major European transport corridors. For export-oriented, industrial, and logistics companies, this location is a major competitive advantage.

A diverse and resilient economic ecosystem

Lyon stands out for the diversity of its economy. Unlike highly specialized regions, the Lyon area benefits from a broad range of strategic industries, including health and life sciences, chemicals and the environment, industrial and digital technologies, energy, mobility, sustainable construction, textiles, and agribusiness.

This diversity encourages cross-industry collaboration and strengthens the region’s economic resilience. It also enables companies to find customers, suppliers, technology partners, research centers, and specialized expertise locally.

In addition, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is France’s leading industrial region, with more than 500,000 jobs spread across 61,000 sites. It is also one of Europe’s most dynamic regions for attracting foreign direct investment. As a result, Lyon has established itself as the leading alternative to Paris for international investors.

An attractive metropolitan area for businesses, talent, and investors

One of the key advantages of investing in Lyon is the region’s overall attractiveness. The metropolitan area combines lower operating and real estate costs than Paris, a strong quality of life, and an exceptional ability to attract and retain talent.

The presence of more than 1,800 foreign-owned companies, a well-established international business network, and numerous professional communities also makes it easier for newly established businesses to develop and integrate into the local ecosystem.

An innovation hub designed to accelerate investment projects

Leading ecosystems in health, industry, technology, and sustainable development

Why invest in Lyon? Because the region is home to some of Europe’s most advanced ecosystems across several strategic sectors.

In health and life sciences, Lyon is Europe’s leading vaccine production hub and hosts a globally recognized ecosystem spanning pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, biotechnology, and medical research.

In industry, the region benefits from a strong industrial legacy that has evolved to address today’s challenges, including decarbonization, Industry 5.0, reshoring, the circular economy, and next-generation mobility.

In digital technologies, Lyon is France’s second-largest digital hub, offering a highly favorable environment for startups, scale-ups, and R&D centers, particularly in industrial artificial intelligence, robotics and IoT, cybersecurity, software and digital services, video games, and creative industries.

A highly skilled talent pool to support business growth

One of Lyon’s greatest strengths is access to highly qualified talent.

With nearly 191,000 students and more than 13,000 researchers, PhD candidates, and faculty members, the Lyon region benefits from an exceptional talent pipeline supported by leading institutions such as INSA Lyon, Centrale Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, emlyon business school, and ENS de Lyon.

Companies gain access to a large pool of talent in engineering, healthcare, digital technologies, manufacturing, and environmental transition. This ability to recruit skilled professionals is a decisive competitive advantage for investment and growth projects.

Infrastructure and partners to develop, test, and scale innovation

Lyon provides an environment specifically designed to accelerate innovation.

Competitiveness clusters (Minalogic, Axelera, Techtera, Lyonbiopôle, CIMES, and others), industry clusters (CARA, Digital League, Tenerrdis, and others), incubators and accelerators (H7, PULSALYS, emlyon venture labs, Bioparc Lyon, Bel Air Camp, CampX, and others), leading research laboratories (CIRI, CRCL, Lyon Neurocampus, IGFL, LIP, AMPERE, CETHIL, CIRC/IARC, and others), as well as technology platforms and industrial demonstrators (Axel’One, PROVADEMSE, GAYA, SuperGrid Institute, 3d.FAB, and others) enable companies to move quickly from concept to commercialization.

Innovation districts and specialized infrastructures such as Biodistrict Lyon-Gerland, LyonTech-la Doua, the Digital Campus of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, Usin Lyon Parilly, and numerous innovation campuses and testing facilities across the region support development, piloting, and industrialization phases.

National initiatives such as the Research Tax Credit (CIR) and France 2030 further strengthen this innovation-friendly environment.

Invest in Lyon with the support of ONLYLYON Invest

Identify the best opportunities for your investment project

Every investment project is unique. That’s why ONLYLYON Invest provides free and confidential support to help companies identify the most suitable opportunities based on their needs, whether related to industrial land, commercial real estate, recruitment, financing, or partnership development.

Discover the strengths of the region: Lyon metropolitan area

Connect with the right business, institutional, and industry partners

ONLYLYON Invest helps companies access the local ecosystem by connecting them with key stakeholders in their industry, including manufacturers, research laboratories, technical centers, competitiveness clusters, investors, public authorities, and institutional partners.

This networking capability significantly accelerates business integration and creates new growth opportunities.

Explore Lyon’s leading industries: Key industries

Secure long-term success through local support

Beyond business establishment, ONLYLYON Invest supports companies over the long term through financing assistance, HR support, employee relocation services, integration into local business networks, and promotion of projects within the regional ecosystem.

This comprehensive approach helps investors save time, reduce risk, and accelerate growth in one of France’s most dynamic business destinations.

Learn more: Our services and support