AFSSI Sciences de la Vie

What AFSSI Sciences de la Vie does

AFSSI Sciences de la Vie (legal name: Association Française des Sociétés de Services et d'Innovation) is a French non-profit trade association under the loi de 1901, headquartered at 9 rue de la Chayère, 90170 Etueffont. It represents approximately 130 member companies and sympathizers operating as Contract Research Organizations (CROs) specializing in preclinical R&D services for human and animal health products, positioning itself as the premier French R&D center in health sciences.

The association operates a community-led go-to-market: it recruits CRO members through its website and events, organizes the annual AFSSI Connexions networking event (220+ participants, 722 meetings in recent editions), maintains the Carto 3 Clics skills-mapping directory, hosts webinars, and secures exhibition presence at BioFIT and MedFIT. Revenue is generated through recurring membership dues from ~130 members and one-time event participation fees (€1,800-€2,200 HT per exhibitor package), with a 25% member discount on full event passes.

Governance is handled by a Bureau led by Présidente Corinne Roucard (elected April 2025), Vice-Presidents Hugues Contamin and Marwan Touati, Trésorier Adama Ouattara, and a Délégué Général (Claude-Alain Cudenne), supported by a 14-member Board of Directors. The association conducts econometric studies with MabDesign, engages on regulatory consultations such as the Biotech Act, and is formally studying convergence with France Biotech to consolidate sector representation.

Name

AFSSI Sciences de la Vie

Legal name

Association Française des Sociétés de Services et d'Innovation

Website

https://afssi.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AFSSI Sciences de la Vie is a French non-profit trade association representing approximately 130 Contract Research Organizations (CROs) specializing in preclinical R&D for human and animal health, generating revenue through membership dues and event participation fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association / Industry Body for Preclinical CROs

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Laboratory, Bioanalytical & Central Lab Staffing FSP (HLAGAOAI)

Keywords

• Contract research organizations
• Preclinical research services
• Life sciences association
• Drug development outsourcing
• CRO industry network

Headquarters

HQ city

Etueffont

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AFSSI generates revenue through membership fees from its ~130 member companies and sympathizers. Companies join to access the network of entrepreneurs, share experiences, and benefit from advocacy on economic and regulatory matters.
2. Event Participation Fees: Revenue from exhibition fees at events like BioFIT. Exhibitor packages range from €1,800 HT (BioFIT only) to €2,200 HT (BioFIT & MedFIT combined), with 25% member discounts on full passes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

AFSSI Sciences de la Vie is a French non-profit trade association (loi 1901) representing approximately 130 Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and life sciences service/innovation companies specialised in preclinical R&D for human and animal health. It sells association membership, the Carto 3 Clics skills-mapping platform, and access to networking events such as AFSSI Connexions and joint exhibition pavilions at BioFIT/MedFIT.

Product overview

AFSSI Sciences de la Vie is a professional association representing French CROs (Contract Research Organisations) in human and animal health. The organization does not offer a unified software product but provides networking services including the Carto 3 Clics skills-mapping platform and the AFSSI Connexions annual networking event. Member companies offer diverse preclinical CRO services spanning pharmacology, toxicology, bioanalysis, and formulation development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carto 3 Clics

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% of French HealthTech companies use outsourcing services, confirming the strategic importance of CROs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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 minor.

• BioFITcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 December 2026AFSSI has a renewed partnership with BioFIT, organizing a joint pavilion at the European leading event for technology transfer, academia-industry collaborations, early-stage innovation deals, and investment in life sciences (Marseille, December 10-11, 2026).
• MedFITcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 December 2026BioFIT 2026 is organized jointly with MedFIT, dedicated to innovation partnerships and investment cycles in MedTech and Diagnostic sectors. AFSSI pavilion enables member visibility at both events.
• France BiotechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFSSI participates in France Biotech's 'Inventer, développer, produire en France' (Invent, develop, produce in France) working group. Ongoing discussions about potential convergence with France Biotech for sector representation. Study conducted on rapprochement possibilities.
• GencoveryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for CROPulse project - initiative to consolidate digitalization of CRO and CDMO sector. AFSSI relays calls for expression of interest to integrate the project.
• MabDesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on econometric study to analyze sector data and trends. MabDesign is an industry association that supports MabDesign therapy development ecosystem.
• Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster (PSCC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for AFSSI General Assembly 2026 held at PSCC, Villejuif (94800). PSCC is a cancer research and innovation cluster.
• Boost CampusminorOthersListed as AFSSI expert partner, providing specialized expertise to the association's ecosystem.
• ArchparcminorOthersListed as AFSSI expert partner, providing specialized expertise to the association's ecosystem.
• SATECminorOthersListed as AFSSI expert partner, providing specialized expertise (insurance/risk management) to the association's ecosystem.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• France Biotech: French life-sciences industry association representing biotech and HealthTech companies. Directly comparable to AFSSI as a national trade body in French health innovation; AFSSI is even exploring structural convergence with France Biotech.
• LEEM (Les Entreprises du Médicament): French pharma industry association representing drug companies operating in France. Same legal form (loi 1901 association), same national scope, similar member-services advocacy model but focused on pharma rather than preclinical CROs.
• ACRO (Association of Clinical Research Organizations): US-based trade association representing CROs. Same fundamental purpose (CRO industry representation and advocacy) as AFSSI, but focused on the US and broader clinical research scope; useful proxy for how CRO associations operate at scale.
• MabDesign: French industry association supporting the monoclonal antibody and biotherapy ecosystem. Closely comparable in size, scope, and loi 1901 structure, and an active AFSSI collaboration partner on econometric studies.
• France BioLead: French industry association for bioproduction (manufacturing of biologics). Comparable French life-sciences trade body with overlapping policy, skills-development, and advocacy agenda to AFSSI.

Peers

• EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations):

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afssi_sante
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afssi-sciences-de-la-vie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about AFSSI Sciences de la Vie