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A major university research hub at UCBL
Recognized Excellence
Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 is a key partner of all institutions based on the Lyon site, fostering strong partnerships with local institutions, national research organizations (such as CNRS, INSERM, INRAE, INRIA, and IFSTTAR), healthcare providers (including the Hospices Civils de Lyon and the Centre Léon Bérard), and other major research hubs across the Auvergne-Rh?ne-Alpes region.
With nearly 47,000 students, UCBL has been at the forefront of education and cutting-edge research for over 50 years. Boasting 84 research units and producing more than 6,000 publications annually, the university drives innovation across diverse fields, including health, mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, Earth and space sciences, and life sciences.
The university’s dynamic research in fundamental sciences is supported by an active commercialization and partnership policy. Its research excellence places it among the top 10 French universities in the Shanghai ranking and within the top 50 globally in Reuters' Innovation ranking. Additionally, it ranked as the highest French university for patent registrations in 2022 (INPI).
Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1’s overarching goal is to bridge the gap between fundamental scientific research, interdisciplinary approaches to societal challenges, and collaborative research with external partners.
A Priority: Strengthening Fundamental Research
High-quality fundamental research is a cornerstone of Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and remains a top priority.
Key initiatives include:
- Supporting major scientific, technological, and health-related research areas (e.g., mathematics, computer science, chemistry, physics, Earth and space sciences, engineering, life sciences, and medicine).
- Expanding and modernizing technology platforms, which serve as interfaces for collaboration with industry.
- Enhancing digital infrastructure, such as data storage and high-performance computing, essential for advancing scientific, technological, and industrial research.
These efforts will leverage collaborations with regional partners, national organizations, and research federations to create large-scale, impactful research clusters.
Promoting Interdisciplinarity
UCBL's commitment to research excellence is also reflected in its focus on interdisciplinary approaches, which are vital for addressing complex societal challenges.
The university’s disciplinary strengths, combined with those of its partners within the Lyon site, particularly in the humanities and social sciences, offer unique opportunities to explore new interdisciplinary avenues. Priority areas include societal issues such as health, energy, environmental sustainability, and the development of advanced materials.
In healthcare, UCBL is prioritizing stronger interfaces between clinical research, fundamental sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, etc.), and the humanities and social sciences. This collaborative approach is being developed in close coordination with the hospital sector.
Such efforts unlock vast potential for innovation and technology transfer, with applications in fields like medicine, sustainable development, pollution detection and treatment, biodiversity, food safety, and natural disaster prevention.
Driving Innovation and Collaboration
These activities will further expand UCBL’s innovation ecosystem through proactive commercialization (e.g., patents, start-ups) and collaborative research, including the creation of new joint laboratories with industrial partners. The university’s initiatives are supported by key entities such as competitiveness clusters, Carnot institutes, LIP, EZUS LYON, and SATT Pulsalys.
Research and doctoral studies department
It works closely with the Research Commission of the Academic Council (CAc), which defines the research and development strategy of Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1.
Contact: direction.recherche[at]univ-lyon1.fr