R&D in France: developing research and innovation activities in Lyon

Why choose Lyon for your R&D projects in France?

An attractive location for innovative companies

The Lyon area is one of France’s leading innovation hubs and a key center for research and technology in Europe. It combines a diversified economy, strong industrial expertise, and a business environment that encourages experimentation and innovation. Every year, international corporations, innovative SMEs, and startups develop new research and development projects in life sciences, advanced materials, energy, digital technologies, and Industry 4.0.

This dynamic ecosystem regularly attracts international companies seeking to establish R&D centers, access world-class scientific expertise, and accelerate their growth in Europe. Companies such as Materi’Act, Holcim, Syensqo, Exotec, and Thorizon illustrate the region’s ability to host ambitious technology projects.

Lyon is also home to research, engineering, and innovation centers operated by major industrial groups, including:

• Sanofi, a global leader in life sciences and pharmaceutical research
• Groupe SEB, the world’s leading small domestic appliance manufacturer, with extensive product innovation activities in Lyon
• Vicat, an international construction materials company committed to innovation and decarbonization
• GE Vernova, a global leader in energy technologies
• Siemens, active in industrial solutions, automation, and digital transformation
• Carrier, an international provider of heating, cooling, and energy-efficiency solutions

A connected ecosystem serving French and European markets

Located at the heart of Western Europe, the Lyon region offers direct access to major French and European markets. This strategic location facilitates scientific partnerships, industrial collaborations, pilot testing, and the commercial expansion of innovative solutions.

The region also benefits from a highly collaborative environment involving companies, research centers, universities, competitiveness clusters, and technology platforms. Organizations such as Axelera and Lyonbiopôle help bridge academic research and industrial innovation. This close interaction accelerates technology transfer and promotes high-value collaborative projects.

Favorable conditions to accelerate research, innovation, and development

Beyond its scientific excellence, the Lyon region provides practical resources to support R&D activities, including business real estate, shared laboratories, prototyping facilities, demonstration infrastructures, and financing solutions.

Companies can also leverage a dense network of public and private stakeholders supporting innovative projects from research through industrialization. This ability to combine innovation, financing, and industrial development is one of the region’s key competitive advantages.

A high-performance R&D ecosystem serving business growth

Leading industries in health, industry, cleantech, and digital technologies

Lyon’s innovation ecosystem is built on several industries recognized across Europe.

In healthcare and life sciences, the region offers a complete value chain spanning academic research, biotechnology, medtech, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Local expertise is particularly strong in infectious diseases, oncology, neuroscience, tissue engineering, and digital health. This momentum is supported by the Lyon-Gerland Biodistrict, which brings together companies, research centers, hospitals, and innovation stakeholders within a dedicated life sciences ecosystem.

In industry and advanced materials, Lyon benefits from a long tradition of innovation driven by specialty chemicals, sustainable materials, and next-generation industrial processes. This strength is supported by a dense industrial base, advanced technology platforms, and internationally recognized companies in chemicals, materials, and industrial engineering.

In digital technologies, Lyon has developed recognized expertise in artificial intelligence, robotics, industrial cybersecurity, software development, and digital solutions. These capabilities help accelerate digital transformation and support the development of high-value industrial innovations.

The region is also a major hub for energy transition technologies, circular economy solutions, batteries, low-carbon technologies, and sustainable industrial processes, helping drive innovation in response to environmental and industrial sovereignty challenges.

Renowned laboratories, universities, engineering schools, and research centers

The Lyon region hosts one of the largest research ecosystems in France, bringing together hundreds of public and private laboratories and more than 13,000 researchers.

Companies can collaborate with leading institutions such as INSA Lyon, Centrale Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, INRIA, and IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN). Together, these organizations generate a continuous flow of innovation and highly qualified talent.

Collaborative innovation platforms such as Axel’One, major industrial laboratories, and numerous technology demonstrators further facilitate applied research, prototyping, and pre-industrialization projects.

Skilled talent to support your research and development activities

The Lyon region benefits from a highly qualified talent pool thanks to its extensive network of universities, engineering schools, and specialized training institutions.

Nearly 15% of French engineers are educated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Companies therefore gain direct access to highly skilled professionals in engineering, life sciences, artificial intelligence, digital technologies, energy, and advanced materials.

This concentration of expertise provides a significant competitive advantage for companies looking to establish an R&D center in the Lyon area or strengthen their research and development teams in France.

Establish your R&D center in Lyon with ONLYLYON Invest

Identify the right opportunities for your project

Each research and development project has specific requirements regarding facilities, laboratories, technical platforms, and proximity to strategic partners.

ONLYLYON Invest helps identify the most suitable solutions for your expansion strategy, whether you are planning an R&D center, laboratory, pilot unit, or innovative industrial site.

Connect with the right scientific, business, and institutional partners

The success of an R&D investment project depends largely on the ability to quickly engage the right stakeholders.

ONLYLYON Invest facilitates introductions to universities, research laboratories, competitiveness clusters, technology platforms, innovation networks, financing organizations, and institutional partners that can accelerate your project.

Benefit from local support to accelerate your growth

As the region’s investment promotion agency, ONLYLYON Invest provides free and confidential support throughout every stage of your project:

• Site and facility search
• Access to financing and support schemes
• Connections with the innovation ecosystem
• Talent recruitment and mobility support
• Administrative and operational assistance
• Integration into the local business community

Depending on the maturity of your project, ONLYLYON Invest can connect you with the most relevant partners and funding solutions to support your research and development activities. Companies can also access a range of investment incentives and financial support programs designed to accelerate innovation, job creation, and business growth in the Lyon region.

Finance your R&D activities in France through the Research Tax Credit

France offers one of Europe’s most attractive tax incentive programs to support innovation through the Research Tax Credit (Crédit d’Impôt Recherche – CIR). This scheme allows companies conducting research and development activities to benefit from tax relief on a portion of eligible R&D expenses.

For companies considering the establishment of an R&D center in the Lyon region, the CIR represents a significant opportunity to reduce innovation costs and strengthen project competitiveness. ONLYLYON Invest can connect project leaders with the appropriate experts and organizations to better understand available funding mechanisms and support programs in France.

R&D in France: A growth driver for innovative companies

R&D in France is a strategic growth lever for companies looking to innovate, test new solutions, and accelerate their development. In the Lyon region, a dynamic ecosystem brings together talent, laboratories, leading industries, and public and private partners.

With ONLYLYON Invest, your research and development project benefits from local expertise and personalized support to successfully establish operations, develop an R&D center, and quickly access the resources needed for long-term growth.