Rhone-Alpes: An ecosystem of scientific excellence and innovation

摘要

Diversity is vital for maintaining a healthy ecosystem, and in the Rhone-Alpes region, in south-eastern France, diversity is immediately evident. Bordered by Switzerland and Italy, the east of the region is blanketed by glaciers and mountains, with its highest peak, Mount Blanc, reaching more than 4,800 meters. The south is marked by fertile valleys, where lavender fields, olive groves and vineyards thrive. The area's diversity is not just geographical. Rhone-Alpes has a formidable reputation for research and innovation-the second most renowned in France-and each major city in the region has its own scientific specialty: Grenoble excels in fundamental physics and nano- and biotechnologies, Lyon is known for cancer, infectious disease and neuroscience research, and Saint-Etienne for engineering. And Rhone-Alpes' scientific endeavours are worth more than the sum of its parts due to a web of collaborations across disciplines and between institutes in the region's cities and towns.