Chemical industry in Europe: Lyon’s responsible ecosystem
Discover the birthplace of green chemistry and low-carbon technologies: from research to industrialization
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The chemicals and environment sector.
The chemical industry in Europe relies on territories able to combine expertise, innovation and sustainable transition. In Lyon, companies in the sector benefit from a structured ecosystem, qualified skills and committed partners to develop more efficient, responsible chemical solutions adapted to new industrial challenges.
No. 1
French region for chemical production
No. 1
French region for plastic and composite production
2,500
researchers and 8 R&D centers in Chemical Valley
How Lyon strengthens the chemical industry in Europe?
Recovery of waste and by-products
With its history of chemical, plastic and composite production, the Lyon region is now fully oriented towards future transitions and the recovery of materials (metals, biomass, plastics, textiles)
Eco-efficient processes
The Lyon region is home to leaders in optimizing transformation processes to make them more sustainable (less waste, less energy) with unique expertise in catalysis and data/AI.
Global chemical companies expanding their operations from Lyon
A key public player tasked with developing new low-carbon technologies (recycling, bio-based molecules, CO2 capture, biofuels, etc.) and industrialization through its subsidiary Axens.
A world leader in specialty chemicals, the group designs and produces advanced sustainable materials in the Lyon region, home to its largest global research center.
An international player specializing in environmental activities, the group designs and implements innovative solutions for waste management, recovery and decontamination, actively contributing to the ecological transition.
Global multi-energy group committed to carbon neutrality, active in the Lyon region with an R&D center and a refinery.
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Reasons to invest in Lyon and its region.
Access the best talent
Lyon and its region have an unrivaled pool of engineers and technicians trained by top-ranked schools (CPE, INSA, ITECH, IUT Lyon 1). Attracting, recruiting and retaining your R&D and industrial teams in the chemical and environment sectors is easy in such an attractive region, rich in the skills you need for your development.
Industrialize your innovations
Leverage a complete ecosystem of globally recognized subcontractors, integrators, and R&D centers. Your chemical and environmental projects, from low-carbon technologies to hydrogen, can be made production-ready quickly in shared laboratories and facilities that are rare in Europe (Axel’One, ADChem4, Syensqo).
Invest in a strategic region
Access scarce land, targeted grants (CIR, JEI, France 2030, etc.) and active political support. The Lyon region facilitates partnerships, accelerates responsible projects and offers ideal accessibility for managing your investments with confidence.
Key sites for chemical companies in the Lyon region.
Chemical Valley
A historic center for the chemicals industry since the 1850s, Chemical Valley (Vallée de la Chimie) is now among France’s largest industrial platforms. Located to the south of Lyon, it stretches over approximately 2,000 hectares, covering three municipalities in the Lyon urban area. This strategic area is the focus of a leading R&D, innovation, and industrial production ecosystem based around the chemical, energy, environment and so-called “greentech” sectors, i.e. technologies involving innovations and processes that use natural and bio-based resources.
Industrial platform
Axel’One
9,000 m² of space dedicated to collaborative innovation in advanced materials and innovative processes in the chemical, environmental and energy sectors. Located on three interconnected sites at the heart of the Lyon urban area, the platform offers turnkey laboratories, hundreds of shared tools and an on-site R&D team to support your projects.
Laboratory
Parc Industriel de la Plaine de l’Ain
Blending nature and industry, the Parc Industriel de la Plaine de l’Ain (PIPA) offers turnkey land opportunities, with immediately available plots ranging from 2,000 m² to 15 hectares. Strategically located within the regional highway network, it is just 35 minutes from central Lyon and 1 hour from Geneva.
Industrial park
Materi’Act
Forvia’s global center of excellence for sustainable materials. An iconic building located at the heart of the LyonTech–La Doua university campus in Villeurbanne. 2,000 m² of office space available and a specific hosting offer for start-ups within the Materi’Act Hub.
Incubator
Circulyz
About 10 hectares of land under development by the Lyon metropolitan authority in Feyzin, in the heart of Chemical Valley, dedicated to industrial companies in the chemicals, energy and environment sectors promoting the environmental transition and the regeneration of existing productive activities.
Industrial eco-park
Lysi – Syensqo
A turnkey industrial site located south of Lyon, in the heart of the Chemical Valley, Lysi offers ready-to-use SEVESO-class infrastructure to support the industrialization of projects, from pilot phase to full-scale production. It provides modular facilities, shared services, and access to a strategic industrial and logistics ecosystem.
Industrial parkCompanies that have chosen the Lyon region.
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The eight sectors of excellence.
The chemical industry in Europe is moving toward safer, more efficient and more sustainable models. In Lyon, companies find a territory historically structured around chemistry, materials, processes and industrial innovation. ONLYLYON Invest helps them set up and grow by connecting them with sites, research partners and economic stakeholders able to support high-value chemical projects.