University of Burgundy-Franche-Comté

What University of Burgundy-Franche-Comté does

University of Burgundy-Franche-Comté (UBFC) is a French public higher education institution headquartered in Besançon, operating as a federal university that coordinates 7 member institutions: Université de Bourgogne, Université de Franche-Comté, ENSMM, UTBM, AgroSup Dijon, Burgundy School of Business, and ENSAM Cluny. Established in 2016 as a COMUE and reclassified as an Établissement Public Expérimental (EPE) on January 1, 2025, UBFC delivers integrated higher education and research across multiple campuses in Dijon, Besançon, Belfort, and Montbéliard, with 16 English-taught Master programs anchored by the EIPHI Graduate School and 7 internationally recognized research laboratories (FEMTO-ST, ICB, IMB, LmB, ImViA, UTINAM, ICMUB).

UBFC's core technology infrastructure comprises unique national-level platforms, including the MIMENTO clean room (RENATECH network member), SMARTLIGHT photonics platform supporting 120+ scientists, REFIMEVE+ metrological fiber network, FCLAB and HYDROGENE-ENERGIE fuel cell testing platforms, and the National Platform for End-of-Life Research coordinating 340+ researchers and clinicians. These platforms underpin research excellence across photonics, microtechnology, time-frequency metrology, hydrogen energy, materials science, and biomedical engineering.

UBFC's business model is structured as a publicly funded institution rather than a revenue-generating entity. Funding streams comprise French government allocations, PIA/ANR research grants, European project funding (Horizon 2020 MSCA networks such as LIMQUET €3.8M and ENHANCE €3.4M), regional council support, and modest regulated tuition fees (€250/year for Master programs plus €105 CVEC, with merit scholarships up to €8,000/year). The go-to-market motion combines centralized French application platforms (Etudes en France, e-Candidat) for student recruitment, 57 Erasmus+ partnerships for international mobility, and the PEPITE-BFC student entrepreneurship center for innovation transfer. Primary customer segments are domestic and international students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, with secondary research partnerships spanning industry, healthcare (CHU Dijon, CHRU Besançon), and government ministries.

Name

University of Burgundy-Franche-Comté

Legal name

COMUE Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Website

https://ubfc.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

UBFC is a French public federal university coordinating 7 member institutions across Burgundy-Franche-Comté, delivering integrated MSc/PhD education and operating 7 internationally recognized research laboratories with unique national-level platforms in photonics, metrology, microtechnology, and hydrogen energy, primarily serving students, research partners, and government stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA), Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE), Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Graduate research programs
• Scientific research labs
• Doctoral training programs
• International student programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Besançon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Higher Education Funding: Government-funded public university receiving state funding for education and research activities as part of the French higher education system.
2. Tuition and Registration Fees: Annual tuition fees of €250 for Master programs plus €105 student life contribution fee, with scholarships available for high-quality international students.
3. Research Grants and Project Funding: Funding from government investment programs including PIA (Programme d'Investissements d'Avenir), ANR (National Research Agency), European projects, and regional council support for research excellence initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

UBFC is a French federal public university that delivers higher education programs from undergraduate to doctoral level and conducts scientific research across seven member institutions. It operates graduate schools (EIPHI, TRANSBIO, INTHERAPI), supports student entrepreneurship through PEPITE-BFC, and manages unique national-level research platforms in photonics, microfabrication, hydrogen energy, and metrology for academic and industry partners.

Product overview

University of Burgundy-Franche-Comté (UBFC) is a federal university structure comprising multiple higher education institutions in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France. Its educational offerings are organized primarily through three Graduate Schools (EIPHI, TRANSBIO, INTHERAPI), each offering integrated MSc and PhD programs across specialized scientific domains. EIPHI Graduate School provides multidisciplinary training in Physics, Sciences, and Engineering with 16 Master degrees. The university also operates research platforms including the National Platform for End-of-Life Research, open science platform dat@UBFC, and student entrepreneurship program PEPITE-BFC. Excellence initiatives like ISITE-BFC organize research around three strategic axes: Advanced Materials/Waves/Smart Systems, Territories/Environment/Food, and Individualized/Integrated Care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISITE-BFC: Excellence initiative project for research and innovation in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (2016-2021)
• INTEGRATE
• PEPITE-BFC
• RITM-BFC
• Polytechnicum
• LabEx LipSTIC
• SMARTLIGHT Platform

Products and services

• EIPHI Graduate School International integrated MSc/PhD program providing multidisciplinary training in Physics, Sciences and Engineering focused on innovation and research. Offers 16 Master degrees taught in English across 5 domains including Physics, Smart Systems, Energy, Material Science, and Computer Science, with integrated 5-year MSc/PhD curriculum and personal mentorship.
• Graduate Schools Network France

Quantifiable outcome

• 120 doctoral graduates in 2024 ceremony
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Ministry of Higher Education, Research and InnovationcoreOthers · 1 January 2018Government ministry providing support for national platform for end-of-life research; Co-supporter with Ministry of Health and Solidarités
• Ministry of Health and SolidaritéscoreOthers · 1 January 2018Government ministry supporting the national platform for end-of-life research
• Fondation de FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Major French charitable foundation supporting the national platform for end-of-life research
• FEMTO-ST LaboratorycoreTechnology or IntegrationInternationally renowned research laboratory; Partner in EIPHI Graduate School and multiple research projects including SMARTLIGHT, hydrogen energy, and microtechnology platforms
• ICB Laboratory (Institut Carnot de Bourgogne)coreTechnology or IntegrationMajor research laboratory in chemistry and physics; Partner in EIPHI Graduate School offering photonics, nanotechnology, and materials science programs
• IMB (Institut de Mathématiques de Bourgogne)coreTechnology or IntegrationMathematics research institute; Partner in EIPHI Graduate School for physics and mathematics programs
• Université de Bourgogne and Université de Franche-ComtéflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo main founding universities of the federal UBFC system; Primary institutions delivering education and research across all programs
• Bourgogne-Franche-Comté RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council supporting EIPHI research projects, graduate school operations, and multiple excellence initiatives (ISITE-BFC, RITM-BFC)
• CROUS Bourgogne-Franche-ComtécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent welfare organization providing housing, dining services, and student life support across UBFC campuses
• 57 European University Partners (Erasmus+)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorErasmus+ cooperation agreements with universities across Europe including EPFL Lausanne, TU Munich, University of Bologna, and 50+ others for student and faculty exchange
• Université Grenoble AlpesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Quantum Technologies and Engineering (QuanTEEM) Erasmus Mundus Master program
• Rheinland Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in Erasmus Mundus QuanTEEM program for Physics double degree
• LIMQUET (MSCA-ITN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie network with €3.8M budget focusing on Light-Matter Interfaces for Quantum Enhanced Technology; 10 beneficiaries
• ENHANCE (MSCA-ITN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie network with €3.4M budget for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters for Self-Powered Automotive Sensors; 7 beneficiaries

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nantes Université: French public research university formed as a federal structure of multiple institutions. Comparable to UBFC in federation model, graduate school strategy, and emphasis on interdisciplinary research clusters.
• CY Cergy Paris Université: Newer French public experimental institution (EPE status) with a federal structure similar to UBFC. Comparable as a recently reorganized public research university pursuing graduate school and industry partnership strategies.
• Aix-Marseille Université: Large French public research university formed as a merger of multiple institutions. Comparable to UBFC as a multi-institution federal research university with national-level platforms and similar funding model through PIA/ANR programs.
• Université de Strasbourg: French public research university with strong STEM and cross-border research profile. Comparable to UBFC in size, research intensity, and multi-disciplinary scope including photonics, chemistry, and life sciences.
• Université de Lorraine: French public research university formed through merger with multi-campus structure across eastern France. Comparable to UBFC in geographic positioning, federal structure, and research portfolio in materials, energy, and engineering.
• Université de Lille: French public research university formed by merger of three universities. Comparable to UBFC as a recently restructured federal public university focused on research excellence, graduate schools, and industry partnerships.
• Université Grenoble Alpes: Major French public research university with a multi-campus federation structure across the Grenoble region. Comparable to UBFC in scope of STEM research, graduate schools, and Erasmus Mundus partnerships (including QuanTEEM co-delivered with UBFC).
• Université de Montpellier: French public research university with strong STEM and life sciences research. Comparable to UBFC as a multi-campus public university with national-level research platforms and similar funding structure through PIA programs.

Broad incumbents

• Université Paris-Saclay: Large French public research-intensive university encompassing multiple grandes écoles and research organizations. Comparable as a public research university with national-level platforms and STEM graduate programs, though operating at significantly greater scale.
• Sorbonne Université: Major Paris-based French public research university. Comparable in offering multi-disciplinary doctoral and graduate programs, though operating at a larger scale with broader international visibility than UBFC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universitebourgognefranchecomte

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries9 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 University of Burgundy-Franche-Comté