Local observations
-
A territory historically involved with medicine and research:
- The Western world’s oldest still-active faculty of medicine: in operation for the past 800 years!
- The oldest botanical garden in France, founded in the XVIth century: “Jardin des plantes” plant garden
- Strong academic ecosystem
- International recognition
- Major groups and a rich community of VSEs, SMEs, and startups
I-SITE Excellence Program (formerly MUSE)
Montpellier University of Excellence: Feed, Care, Protect
University of Montpellier
3rd ranked worldwide in ecology
(Shanghai Ranking 2021)
10%
of all CNRS innovation awards
over the past 10 years
Paul Valéry University
House of Human Sciences
Human and social sciences,

UNESCO international center for water sciences
UNESCO international center for water sciences
Comprising 17 research laboratories, 400 scientists, and nearly 150 PhD candidates

ARCAD
ARCAD
Resource center for the study and conservation of tropical and Mediterranean crop diversity

ICM
ICM
Montpellier Cancer Institute, one of France’s 8 SIRIC* sites, with 500 researchers and clinical practitioners
(*Integrated Cancer Research Site)
(*Integrated Cancer Research Site)
Goals
- Build a worldwide excellence hub in global health to meet tomorrow’s great challenges involving health, food, and the environment
- Boost the attractiveness of Montpellier and the surrounding area
- Leverage excellence in research to support economic development and job growth in target sectors
- Support France’s health and food sovereignty
- Offer adapted building and technological infrastructure in the area north of Montpellier