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- Rhône-Alpes takes life-sciences excellence to Atlanta
London - 20/05/09
Rhône-Alpes takes life-sciences excellence to Atlanta
The Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France is a leading centre in the life-sciences sector, with 600 life-sciences businesses employing 30,000 staff. The Rhône-Alpes region will accompany local biotechnology and medical-sector companies to Bio Atlanta, the world’s largest convention for the biotechnology industry, which is being held from 18 to 21 May 2009.
In overall economic terms, Rhône-Alpes is the second most important region in France, with a GDP of €143 billion. With its exceptional mix of SMEs and major industrial companies, the region, which has been described as ultra high-tech, is home to 14 research networks, 15 competitiveness clusters (pôles de competitivité), and 10 local business-development clusters.
In this respect, the region of Rhône-Alpes operates through ERAI (Entreprise Rhône Alpes International), its business development agency, which has a network of 24 international offices in locations including Atlanta and Philadelphia (USA), Montreal (Canada), Barcelona (Spain), Krakow (Poland), Stuttgart (Germany) and Turin (Italy).
Rhône-Alpes is home to 600 life-sciences companies, which employ 30,000 staff across the region. Twenty of the world’s leading life-sciences companies are based in the region, including Sanofi Pasteur, Mérial, bioMérieux, Stryker, Becton Dickinson, Depuy and Genzyme. Rhône-Alpes is also host to many dynamic and innovative SMEs, such as Altrabio, Varioptic, Bioviron, ImmunID, ProteinXpert, Cytoo, Hélioscopie, AAA, Aspide Médical, Spineway, Fluoptics and Biom’Up.
Rhône-Alpes concentrates 20% of French research capacity and the equivalent of 5% of European R&D capacity in biotechnology. There are 650 academic research laboratories in the area, including major international R&D centres such as the International Cancer Research Centre (Centre International de la Recherche sur le Cancer), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, the Laue Langevin Institute and the WHO.
Other important research facilities in Rhône-Alpes include the Synchrotron, the P4 Laboratory, CERN (European Centre for Nuclear Research), the biomedical cyclotron (CERMEP), the Rhône-Alpes Génopole, and MINATEC. The planned Charles Mérieux Campus and Rovaltain eco-toxicology and environmental toxicology pôle (or hub) will also add to this rich research environment.
Rhône-Alpes has one of the highest concentrations of hospitals and medical treatment centres in Europe, with three university hospitals and 400 public- and private-sector treatment centres, representing 30,000 beds.
The Rhône-Alpes region has focused on fostering active partnerships between the R&D sector and business, on improving cooperation between research structures, and on building convergence with other high-level technologies. New therapeutic avenues and innovative treatment techniques are being developed in the region, using biotechnology, microtechnology, nanotechnology, medical systems and green technology, as well as relying on more ‘traditional’ technologies found in sectors such as plastics processing, precision mechanics or textiles.
Lyonbiopôle (www.lyonbiopole.org) is a centre of excellence in vaccinations and diagnosis. Its objective is to understand infectious diseases affecting humans and animals worldwide – from diagnosis and prevention to treatment – while integrating original administration systems. This integrated approach aims to create a health shield to ensure the protection of populations.
Lyonbiopôle is an international competitiveness cluster that has been certified by the French government. It has formed an alliance with a number of other international clusters of excellence. As a result, the Lifescience Corridor France (Lyonbiopôle, Alsace BioValley and Cancer-Bio-Santé) has signed three partnership agreements with international clusters in Kansai (Japan), Quebec (Canada) and Massachusetts / Boston (USA). Already, 37 research programmes with these countries are underway and six international partnerships have been finalised.
Lyonbiopôle has also initiated a partnership with BioWin, the Belgian competitiveness cluster in the health sector, as well as working on an Alps BioCluster programme with Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy.
The Centre of Infectiology, the cluster’s flagship project, has 1,920m² of laboratories. It has recently opened, and brings together major expertise in infectious diseases within a single structure that is unique in Europe. The centre hosts researchers from a range of sectors in a shared environment for an average duration of three years, in order to stimulate regional innovation, encourage dialogue between public- and private-sector research players, and facilitate access to technical platforms. A further extension is planned for 2013, which will focus on the emergence and development of R&D projects, with priority given to Europe and the international development of projects, in addition to the support to, and growth of SMEs.
Rhône-Alpes is also home to Minalogic (www.minalogic.com), an international cluster for intelligent miniaturised solutions.
Working alongside these major clusters are the satellite clusters of Techtera, Viaméca, Plastipolis and Arve Industry. These smaller clusters focus on R&D projects in health using microtechnology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, technical textiles, high-precision mechanics, the technology of plastics processing and mecatronics. In 2009, a further Rhône-Alpes Cluster for health technology will be launched.
Rhône-Alpes has extensive expertise, structured networks and competitive players in five key areas in the health sector: infectiology, oncology, neurosciences, medical technology and nano-biotechnologies. The CLARA Centre for Cancer Research brings together 113 research centres, 82 clinical services and 50 companies (www.canceropole-clara.com). There are also over 250 businesses, 400 health establishments, 17 public- and private-sector research centres in the medical technology field, which represent a total of about 20,000 jobs.
This unique set-up has made it possible to create and sustain around 100 companies specialising in biotechnology and medical technology, such as Fluoptics (www.minatec.com), ERYtech Pharma (www.erytech.com), PX’Therapeutics (www.px-therapeutics.com), ImmunID Technologies (www.immunid.com), and the Alizé Pharma group (www.alz-pharma.com).
In March 2009, the city of Lyons hosted Biovision, the World Life Sciences Forum. The event, which was being held for the sixth time, brought together more than 120 experts, including Nobel laureates, entrepreneurs and politicians.
About Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is the second largest region in France in economic terms with a GDP of €143 billion. It is home to numerous companies and research institutes in the life-sciences sector. Its business development agency, ERAI (Entreprise Rhône Alpes International), has 24 international offices across the world. ERAI is in charge of the international development of clusters in Rhône-Alpes, helping companies from the region to establish contacts with players in other countries.
Rhône-Alpes will take part in Bio Atlanta, which will take place in Atlanta (USA) from 18 to 21 May 2009.
For further information, please go to: www.erai.org or www.rhonealpes.fr
The Rhône-Alpes region of south-eastern France is a leading centre in the life-sciences sector, with 600 life-sciences businesses employing 30,000 staff. The Rhône-Alpes region will accompany local biotechnology and medical-sector companies to Bio Atlanta, the world’s largest convention for the biotechnology industry, which is being held from 18 to 21 May 2009. In overall economic terms, Rhône-Alpes is the second most important region in France, with a GDP of €143 billion. With its exceptional mix of SMEs and major industrial companies, the region, which has been described as ultra high-tech, is home to 14 research networks, 15 competitiveness clusters (pôles de competitivité), and 10 local business-development clusters.
In this respect, the region of Rhône-Alpes operates through ERAI (Entreprise Rhône Alpes International), its business development agency, which has a network of 24 international offices in locations including Atlanta and Philadelphia (USA), Montreal (Canada), Barcelona (Spain), Krakow (Poland), Stuttgart (Germany) and Turin (Italy).
Rhône-Alpes is home to 600 life-sciences companies, which employ 30,000 staff across the region. Twenty of the world’s leading life-sciences companies are based in the region, including Sanofi Pasteur, Mérial, bioMérieux, Stryker, Becton Dickinson, Depuy and Genzyme. Rhône-Alpes is also host to many dynamic and innovative SMEs, such as Altrabio, Varioptic, Bioviron, ImmunID, ProteinXpert, Cytoo, Hélioscopie, AAA, Aspide Médical, Spineway, Fluoptics and Biom’Up.
Rhône-Alpes concentrates 20% of French research capacity and the equivalent of 5% of European R&D capacity in biotechnology. There are 650 academic research laboratories in the area, including major international R&D centres such as the International Cancer Research Centre (Centre International de la Recherche sur le Cancer), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, the Laue Langevin Institute and the WHO.
Other important research facilities in Rhône-Alpes include the Synchrotron, the P4 Laboratory, CERN (European Centre for Nuclear Research), the biomedical cyclotron (CERMEP), the Rhône-Alpes Génopole, and MINATEC. The planned Charles Mérieux Campus and Rovaltain eco-toxicology and environmental toxicology pôle (or hub) will also add to this rich research environment.
Rhône-Alpes has one of the highest concentrations of hospitals and medical treatment centres in Europe, with three university hospitals and 400 public- and private-sector treatment centres, representing 30,000 beds.
The Rhône-Alpes region has focused on fostering active partnerships between the R&D sector and business, on improving cooperation between research structures, and on building convergence with other high-level technologies. New therapeutic avenues and innovative treatment techniques are being developed in the region, using biotechnology, microtechnology, nanotechnology, medical systems and green technology, as well as relying on more ‘traditional’ technologies found in sectors such as plastics processing, precision mechanics or textiles.
Lyonbiopôle (www.lyonbiopole.org) is a centre of excellence in vaccinations and diagnosis. Its objective is to understand infectious diseases affecting humans and animals worldwide – from diagnosis and prevention to treatment – while integrating original administration systems. This integrated approach aims to create a health shield to ensure the protection of populations. Lyonbiopôle is an international competitiveness cluster that has been certified by the French government. It has formed an alliance with a number of other international clusters of excellence. As a result, the Lifescience Corridor France (Lyonbiopôle, Alsace BioValley and Cancer-Bio-Santé) has signed three partnership agreements with international clusters in Kansai (Japan), Quebec (Canada) and Massachusetts / Boston (USA). Already, 37 research programmes with these countries are underway and six international partnerships have been finalised.
Lyonbiopôle has also initiated a partnership with BioWin, the Belgian competitiveness cluster in the health sector, as well as working on an Alps BioCluster programme with Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy.
The Centre of Infectiology, the cluster’s flagship project, has 1,920m² of laboratories. It has recently opened, and brings together major expertise in infectious diseases within a single structure that is unique in Europe. The centre hosts researchers from a range of sectors in a shared environment for an average duration of three years, in order to stimulate regional innovation, encourage dialogue between public- and private-sector research players, and facilitate access to technical platforms. A further extension is planned for 2013, which will focus on the emergence and development of R&D projects, with priority given to Europe and the international development of projects, in addition to the support to, and growth of SMEs.
Rhône-Alpes is also home to Minalogic (www.minalogic.com), an international cluster for intelligent miniaturised solutions.
Working alongside these major clusters are the satellite clusters of Techtera, Viaméca, Plastipolis and Arve Industry. These smaller clusters focus on R&D projects in health using microtechnology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, technical textiles, high-precision mechanics, the technology of plastics processing and mecatronics. In 2009, a further Rhône-Alpes Cluster for health technology will be launched.
Rhône-Alpes has extensive expertise, structured networks and competitive players in five key areas in the health sector: infectiology, oncology, neurosciences, medical technology and nano-biotechnologies. The CLARA Centre for Cancer Research brings together 113 research centres, 82 clinical services and 50 companies (www.canceropole-clara.com). There are also over 250 businesses, 400 health establishments, 17 public- and private-sector research centres in the medical technology field, which represent a total of about 20,000 jobs.
This unique set-up has made it possible to create and sustain around 100 companies specialising in biotechnology and medical technology, such as Fluoptics (www.minatec.com), ERYtech Pharma (www.erytech.com), PX’Therapeutics (www.px-therapeutics.com), ImmunID Technologies (www.immunid.com), and the Alizé Pharma group (www.alz-pharma.com).
In March 2009, the city of Lyons hosted Biovision, the World Life Sciences Forum. The event, which was being held for the sixth time, brought together more than 120 experts, including Nobel laureates, entrepreneurs and politicians.
About Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is the second largest region in France in economic terms with a GDP of €143 billion. It is home to numerous companies and research institutes in the life-sciences sector. Its business development agency, ERAI (Entreprise Rhône Alpes International), has 24 international offices across the world. ERAI is in charge of the international development of clusters in Rhône-Alpes, helping companies from the region to establish contacts with players in other countries. Rhône-Alpes will take part in Bio Atlanta, which will take place in Atlanta (USA) from 18 to 21 May 2009.
For further information, please go to: www.erai.org or www.rhonealpes.fr
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Kate AMBLER – Press Officer
UBIFRANCE Press Office in London
Telephone: 020-7235-5330
Email: kate.ambler@ubifrance.fr
Web site: www.ftpb.co.uk
UBIFRANCE UK #3267