Learning by Research

Grenoble consistently ranks among the world’s top most innovative cities. With a very high ratio of patents per inhabitants, the city relies on a unique and efficient system of innovation and knowledge transfer.
Since the 19th century, Grenoble has been characterized by an endogenous growth, relying on the cooperation of university and society to develop many social and cultural innovations.

With an efficient research and innovative ecosystem relying on bilateral contracts, and a good synergy between academic and economic actors, Grenoble was amongst the three nominees for the first prize of European capital of innovation, awarded by the European Commission (iCapitale) in 2014. FDI Intelligence (Financial Time group) ranked Grenoble 17th worldwide within its cities of the future ranking, and 5th of the top 10 “small European cities” for its strategy.

Université Grenoble Alpes has been ranked amongst the top 100 most innovative universities worldwide and Shanghai Ranking.

A Place that Dares the Impossible

The secret of Grenoble’s ecosystem is in the close interaction between academia, large research centers and businesses, in particular multinational companies. But beyond such cooperation, innovation is a spirit shared by all and for all. Grenoble was the first city to put in place health insurance and family planning, and was amongst the first in France to adopt the administrative status of a Métropole (Grenoble-Alpes Métropole).

On the scientific and technical levels, the presence of large European instruments together with national research organization and a university with top-class equipment offers students, researchers, companies and citizens the right tools to create and innovate. Grenoble Alpes is a place where people dare to experiment, test, dream, and do not fear failure, to pave the way to future success.

Grenoble Alpes Embodies the Entrepreneurship Spirit

With more than 300 startups created within 10 years, Grenoble Alpes is an authentic “startup city”. Startups can rely on business incubators and accelerators such as the innovation parks, each structure supporting in its own way projects and companies.
In 2014, Grenoble was awarded the FrenchTech label, together with a few French cities which present the will, skills and means to accelerate collective projects in the sector of digital economy.