ABOUT LYON

Located in east-central France, Lyon is the capital of the Rhône-Alpes region and the Rhône Department.    Ideally situated at the crossroad of some of the major European cities -Paris, Marseille, Geneva, Turin- Lyon is ranked as the 6th highest GDP in Europe (Eurostat 2005). Key European business center, it is also a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the European Commission Intercultural cities program.

With over 2 000 000 inhabitants Lyon is the second largest metropolitan area in France after Paris and the second largest university and research center of the country attracting more than 115 000 students each year with its four universities and twenty graduate schools.

Home to five competitive clusters, Health and Biotechnologies, Chemicals and Environment, Transport Systems, Technical Textiles, and Digital Leisure, the city stands out as a major industrial center specializing in chemical, pharmaceutical (Mérial, Sanofi, Mérieux), and biotech industries. Hosting three Medical Universities and Research Centers in its region, Lyon is a major medical hub. It is also the birthplace to the General Hospitals (Hospices Civils), along with several private establishments, the anti-cancer Research Center, and the only high security research laboratory (class 4) of the country.

Lyon also hosts the international headquarters of Interpol, Euronews, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and some major events such as the internationally renowned BioVision Conference.

Conveniently located near two of France's best known wine-growing regions, the Beaujolais to the North, and the Côtes du Rhône to the South, Lyon is also known as the French capital of gastronomy and is home to some of the most reputable Chefs such as Paul Bocuse.

Historically known as the “Silk Capital of the World” the city was ranked in 1998 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its Roman Amphitheaters and the Fourvière Basilica, its cobble stone streets in the Old-Lyon, its Renaissance heritage, and 12th century architecture.

In 2007 Reader’s Digest ranked Lyon as one of the most livable cities in the world.