Life Sciences Services in Lyon

The local Life Sciences network was created in 2003 on the initiative of Greater Lyon. It gathers together those organisations working in the Life Sciences field and includes complementary skills in the field of economic development and the structuring of large R&D projects.

ALL the skills required to support the development of Life Sciences and increase the attractiveness of the region!

The objective of this network is  to encourage the setting up, anchoring and development of businesses in the Lyon area in the Life Sciences field.

It enables support for each stage of a business' development within the sector, from creation/setting-up to development by offering tailor-made options in the following areas:

• finance,
• property,
• exchanges between professionals and experts,
• help in setting up scientific and industrial partnerships,
• international development,
• sharing of promotional tools during trade shows,
• enhancement of the value of research,
• monitoring etc.

Designed as a grid of public and private support organisations this network includes:

• experts in the economic development of the sector,
• networks in specialised fields originating in Rhône-Alpes,

in order to coalesce around those already in place and encourage competitiveness among those in the region.

The objective pursued by all of the partners is:

• to offer a high performing, personalised service that is reactive and professional to those in the sector,
• to use meetings and seminars to bring people together,
• to promote local skills.

This network opens the door to local partnerships in specialised areas helping increase strengths and find common ground locally and internationally in our areas of excellence. The emergence of collaborative R&D programmes has been a particular feature.

Infectious diseases

• Entry point: Lyonbiopole is a world centre of excellence in diagnostics and vaccines. The centre works with all scientists, clinicians and regional industrialists (large groups and SMEs) in order to mount multi-partner, innovative R&D projects that will meet the challenge of a world fight against human and animal infectious diseases.

Cancer

• Entry point: the CLARA cancer hub (Lyon Auvergne Rhône-Alpes cancer hub), centralises and exploits the scientific, clinical and industrial oncology strengths of the Lyon Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region and uses them for the research and manufacture of innovative treatments for patients.
• Synergy Lyon Cancer, a specialised network built around research and care, gathers together regional scientists and clinicians around the development of translational research programmes in the areas of targeted oncology and tumour escape therapies. This is in line with CLARA's main VI research programme.
• Lyonbiopole is developing an oncology thread linked to infectology in its programme of R&D projects supported by the State and Greater Lyon.

Neuroscience

• Neurodis, the specialist research and care network, uses its regional scientific and clinical strengths to develop cross-boundary lines of research in the field of neuroscience as applied to the afflictions of the nervous system and neurological disability.

Medical Technology

• I-Care (Health Technology Rhône-Alpes Cluster) supports innovative projects that encourage technology and innovation for use in care and health. The cluster's challenge is to optimise the place of medical technology in care cycles.

The network, driving projects forward with financial and expert support:

• The Testing a Theory programme for cancer research, one of the parts of the partnership that brings together those in the public sector (academics and clinicians) and the private (industrialists); supported by CLARA.
• R&D in the field of infectious diseases (diagnostics, vaccines & new therapies, systems) and diseases involving the mechanics of immunology (orphan autoimmune diseases, virus induced cancers etc.); supported by Lyonbiopole.
• Innovative R&D in Life Sciences supported by OSEO (financing of innovative projects, research credits, financing guarantees from banks or financing with equity capital).

The network brings together key partners to enhance your expertise, procedures and products:

Lyon Science Transfer (LST) is a service in partnership with the University of Lyon that can help you develop technology or knowledge that has come from the research in the public sector: depositing patents, licensing, technology transfer, research under contract etc.

Key partners for the technical support and financing of entrepreneurs in the Life Sciences, also members of the Lyon city of entrepreneurs (LVE) network:

• Créalys, the West Rhône-Alpes region business incubator supports business start-ups developed in partnership with a public sector research during the pre-set up phase;
• Novacité, European Centre for Business and Innovation (CEEI), supports start-up projects developed without any direct links to local publically funded research in the pre start-up phase and during the first post start-up years.

A network of partners for help with development and competitiveness of businesses in the Life Sciences:

• Lyon Chamber of Commerce helps businesses develop and innovate, (CC Innovation Service) and also helps them develop internationally, (CC International Service).
• Lyonbiopole supports SMEs develop, offering support programmes to help find partners and in the mounting of collaborative programmes, access to private finance, entry to the Business Developers Club, access to international markets and acquiring an international vision, scientific ideas and day conferences.
• Greater Lyon supports businesses and organisations to set-up, expand or relocate their business in the region (land and premises).
• ADERLY the agency for the economic development of the Lyon region supports external businesses if they want to set-up in the Lyon region.
• OSEO, the Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Greater Lyon help businesses raise funds and obtain finance (private investors, busines  angels etc.).