Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

What Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 does

Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, "Lyon 1" or UCBL) is a French public research university headquartered in Villeurbanne, in the Lyon metropolitan area, formed in 2015 through the merger of Université Lyon 1 - Sciences et Technologies and Université Lyon 1 - Santé under the Loi ESR 2013. It is constituted as an Établissement public à caractère scientifique, culturel et professionnel (EPCSCP) under the supervision of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, and operates a two-faculty structure (Sciences et Technologies; Santé) with 13 doctoral schools, multiple institutes (Polytech Lyon, IUT, ISFA, INSPé, ISTR, ISPB, Observatoire de Lyon, UFR STAPS, UFR FS, UFR Biosciences), and two medical faculties (Lyon Est, Lyon Sud - Charles Mérieux). The institution serves approximately 49,000 students and researchers, produces around 10,000 graduates and roughly 7,600 publications per year, and was ranked the #1 French university in patent filings at INPI in 2022; it operates no public-facing AI/ML or commercial software product portfolio.

The business model is anchored on three revenue streams: recurring public funding from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, regulated tuition fees (~170 euros/year for EU students), and competitive research funding from ANR, France 2030, ERC, and Horizon Europe (with 13.5 million euros of direct research support allocated in 2023). Distribution is delivered through campus-based education, the Moodle-based digital learning environment, Erasmus+ and bilateral exchange programs, the Graduate+ employability program, and the FOCAL continuing-education channel for enterprises. Customer segments are organized as Domestic French students (primary), International students, Companies and Partners (research, technology transfer, talent), and prospective Lycéeens. Technology transfer is operationalized via the PULSALYS SATT, the in-house Lyon Ingénierie Projets (LIP) subsidiary, and spin-offs such as TherAguix (AGuIX nano-radiosensitizer, restarted 2025, currently in Phase II trials in the US with Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber, and Institut Gustave Roussy). Major alliances include ARQUS (European University Alliance), CNRS (joint research units), ANR, France 2030, and ERC; the institution is GDPR-compliant but its public website is documented as accessibility non-conforme.

Name

Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

Legal name

Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1

Website

https://univ-lyon1.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 is a French public research university headquartered in Villeurbanne (Lyon), serving approximately 49,000 students and researchers across 13 doctoral schools in sciences, health, and technology, under the supervision of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flagship Public Research Universities (R1/R2) (EDAHAAAA), Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Scientific research
• Doctoral training programs
• Medical education programs
• Continuing professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: Core funding from French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, supplemented by research contracts and grants
2. Tuition and Fees: Student tuition fees (regulated by French government for public universities)
3. Research Funding: ANR grants, European funding (Horizon Europe, ERC), France 2030 funding for specific projects; 13.5M euros dedicated to direct research support in 2023

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 is a French public research university that delivers higher education across science, technology, health, sports, and engineering disciplines to approximately 49,000 students and researchers. It operates 13 doctoral schools, delivers the Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) qualification, and conducts scientific research producing around 7,600 publications annually. The institution also offers continuing education, technology transfer via PULSALYS, and public science outreach through programs such as Université Ouverte and Sciences pour Tous.

Product overview

Claude Bernard Lyon 1 Université is a comprehensive public university organized into two main faculties (Health and Sciences & Technologies) with 13 doctoral schools. The institution provides higher education across medical, scientific, and technological disciplines, supported by research platforms, digital infrastructure services, and outreach programs. Key offerings include doctoral training with HDR qualification, specialized research support, and public science communication through Université Ouverte. The university operates internal digital systems for administration, learning (Moodle), and student services, with no documented public API.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Doctoral Training (Doctorat & HDR) Research training through 13 doctoral schools covering major scientific disciplines, plus the Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR), the highest academic qualification in France obtainable after a doctorate. Targeted at researchers and academics.
• Faculty of Health Programs Health-focused degree programs delivered through the Faculté de Médecine Lyon Est, Faculté de Médecine et de Maïeutique Lyon Sud - Charles Mérieux, Faculté d'Odontologie, Institut des Sciences et Techniques de Réadaptation, and Institut des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques. Targets students in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, midwifery, and rehabilitation sciences.
• Faculty of Sciences and Technologies Programs Science and engineering degree programs delivered through INSPÉ, IUT Lyon 1, ISFA, Observatoire de Lyon, Polytech Lyon, UFR STAPS, UFR FS, and UFR Biosciences. Covers mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and physical/sports sciences.
• Research Support Services Operational and project-based research support including doctoral school coordination, HDR administration, thesis defense coordination, and diploma withdrawal services, with 13.5 million euros dedicated to direct research support in 2023.
• Graduate+ Employability Program Employability program connecting Lyon 1 students with professional development opportunities to enhance career readiness beyond academic curricula.
• Université Ouverte Open university program offering nearly 190 conferences and workshops for the general public to share scientific progress and research findings.
• Sciences pour Tous Outreach Program Public science outreach initiative connecting university researchers with the general public to communicate scientific research and discoveries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13.5M euros dedicated to direct research support in 2023
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ARQUS Alliance (European University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026ARQUS is a European University Alliance bringing together multiple universities to develop joint educational programs, research collaborations, and student mobility within the European Higher Education Area.
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French public research organization co-establishing and funding joint research laboratories with the university. Most research units are joint CNRS-University entities.
• TherAguixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off company from Institut Lumière Matière (iLM) developing AGuIX nano-radiosensitizer technology. Founded by researchers including François Lux and Olivier Tillement. Restarted in 2025 after initial company liquidation, now pursuing Phase II clinical trials in the US.
• PULSALYS (SATT Lyon Saint-Étienne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer company (Société d'Accélération de Transfert de Technologies) supporting university research commercialization, intellectual property protection, and startup creation from laboratory discoveries.
• Lyon Ingénierie Projets (LIP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSubsidiary of Lyon 1 University supporting project engineering, funding acquisition, and result exploitation. Played key role in THERAGUIX company creation and AGuIX development continuation.
• Harvard Medical School / Brigham and Women's Hospital / Dana-Farber Cancer InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious US medical institutions conducting NANOBRAINMETS and NANOSMART Phase II clinical trials for AGuIX technology in brain metastases and pancreatic/lung cancer treatment.
• Institut Gustave RoussymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading French cancer research center collaborating on AGuIX clinical trials, previously involved in Phase I studies for cervical cancer.
• LBBE - ENS de Lyon / VetAgroSupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research unit (Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive) conducting evolutionary biology research with international collaborations including Brazilian partners (UNESP) on Drosophila genetics studies.
• iLM - Institut Lumière MatièrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint CNRS-University research institute developing cutting-edge materials science and light-matter interaction research, including AGuIX nanoparticle technology.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aix-Marseille Universit\u00e9: Large French public research university with a comparable sciences-health-technology portfolio and ~80,000 students; overlaps directly with Lyon 1 in life sciences, medical training, and patent filings.
• Sorbonne Universit\u00e9: Paris-based comprehensive research university covering sciences, health, and engineering with similar doctoral-school structure and major patent/publication output; competes for French and international students.
• Universit\u00e9 de Bordeaux: Major French public research university with strong health/medical and life sciences profile and significant INSERM/CNRS joint research units; directly comparable in scale and IP output.
• Universit\u00e9 de Strasbourg: French public research university with a similar mix of sciences, health, and technology faculties, significant CNRS joint units, and comparable publication/patent metrics.
• Universit\u00e9 Grenoble Alpes: Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes neighbor and peer university with comparable sciences/technology/health portfolio, large doctoral school network, and similar industry-partnership model anchored by CEA and CNRS labs.
• Universit\u00e9 de Montpellier: French public research university with a similar sciences-health-technology focus, large doctoral school network, and meaningful patent activity through joint CNRS/INSERM units.
• Universit\u00e9 Paris-Saclay: Large French public research university specializing in sciences, engineering, and health with strong patent output and multi-campus structure; directly comparable in scale (~50k students) and CNRS/INPI profile to Lyon 1.
• Universit\u00e9 Toulouse III \u2013 Paul Sabatier: French public research university with strong sciences, health, and sports/STAPS profile; directly comparable to Lyon 1 in faculty mix and STEM research intensity.

Others

• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique): France's largest public research organization and a co-funder of most Lyon 1 research units (iLM, LBBE, etc.); not a peer for student enrollment but the primary research counterpart shaping publication and patent output.

Regional players

• ENS de Lyon (Ecole Normale Sup\u00e9rieure): Lyon-based elite higher education and research institution with shared doctoral schools (e.g., LBBE) and overlapping research community; not a direct competitor for mass enrollment but a close collaborator on research output.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UnivLyon1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@univlyon1
• Facebookfacebook.com/univlyon1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universit-claude-bernard-lyon-1
• Instagraminstagram.com/univlyon1

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Claude Bernard University Lyon 1