HEALTH: A THOUSAND YEARS OF HISTORY
- + 1,000researchers and faculty in health sciences
- + 200companies representing 7,500 jobs
- 1/4of all startups assisted by BIC are in the health sector
Home to the Western world’s oldest medical school still in activity, Montpellier is more than ever a hub for research and innovation, driven by a powerful entrepreneurial spirit, historically rooted in healthcare, and focused on the medicine of the future, notably with the inauguration of the new Faculty of Medicine in 2017.
The Montpellier metropolitan area is home to a HAS-certified (French High Authority for Health) university hospital ranked 5th in the national SIGAPS rankings for the dynamism of its research, alongside SIRIC Montpellier Cancer, the only integrated cancer research center of its kind in southern France, and University of Montpellier, which ranks among the world’s top 200 universities in the Shanghai 2025 general ranking, high-level research centers, the Eurobiomed competitiveness cluster, major companies (Bausch+Lomb, HORIBA Medical, Sanofi…), as well as innovative SMEs, startups, and micro-businesses.
In addition, these major regional players are all involved in the MedVallée initiative dedicated to Global Health, alongside the French government and Occitanie Region.
The area's strengths include: medical diagnostics, regenerative medicine and biotherapies, cancer research and treatment, medical robotics, medicinal chemistry, genetics, and e-health.
Euromédecine Biopole, a hub for businesses Euromédecine science park
Located in the Euromédecine science park in northern Montpellier, the Euromédecine Biopole business park is at the heart of Medvallée and its comprehensive healthcare ecosystem. The site is conveniently located near hospitals, universities, and research laboratories.
Currently comprising three buildings — Cap Gamma, Cap Delta, and Cap Sigma — with a fourth building planned, Euromédecine Biopole is home to the Eurobiomed competitiveness cluster and more than 25 companies.
Among other things, it offers:
Key players in healthcare
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The Montpellier CHU University Hospital is a nationally and internationally acclaimed hospital system. It comprises five main facilities and employs more than 12,000 staff members, making it the 3rd largest employer in the Occitanie region. Deeply committed to research, the hospital has also established an Innovation Incubator designed to identify and support innovative ideas proposed by its staff, regardless of their role — whether they are doctors, pharmacists, healthcare managers, nursing assistants, secretaries, or anyone else.
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Founded in 1923 and a member of Unicancer, ICM - Val d’Aurelle is one of the first four Cancer Treatment Centers established in France. Thanks to its multidisciplinary approach, ICM - Valle d'Aurelle plays a key role in cancer research and improving treatments for patients. The center is a cornerstone of the SIRIC Montpellier Cancer integrated cancer research center, the only one in southern France, which was recertified in 2023 for the third consecutive time.
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Featured prominently in major international rankings, University of Montpellier has rolled out its I-Site Excellence Program (PEI) centered on health, food, and the environment: Feed, Care, Protect. Whether in education or innovation, the university is particularly active in the field of health.
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Bringing together an ecosystem of over 400 stakeholders, including universities, research laboratories, industrial firms, major corporations, SMEs, and startups, the Eurobiomed competitiveness cluster supports the growth of companies and innovative projects in the regions of Sud – Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée, helping to position the area at the forefront of innovation in healthcare.
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A cluster of healthcare companies in the Occitanie region, Biomed Alliance unites, represents, and speaks on behalf of its members, promoting their economic development and internationalization efforts and stimulating their innovation initiatives.
Structural projects
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Led by ICM as part of the SIRIC Montpellier Cancer network, the CTIO will focus on accelerating the transfer of therapeutic innovations to patients by supporting multidisciplinary research efforts. Hosting start-ups, the CTIO represents not only a societal challenge but also a strategic opportunity to consolidate the Montpellier area's position as a global leader for innovation in oncology.
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CRIBS is located in the new Biology building at the Montpellier CHU University Hospital, where 15,000 m² will be dedicated to hospital biology activities. It will be entirely devoted to research and innovation, offering 1,200 m² of space for collaborative research with companies located on hospital premises.
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Dedicated to autoimmune diseases and innovative immunotherapies, IMMUN4CURE, the Montpellier IHU, is led by the Montpellier CHU University Hospital, INSERM, and University of Montpellier. The institute is supported by a €20 million grant under the France 2030 plan.
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Located in Lattes, just south of Montpellier, the Health Autonomy Hub is dedicated to promoting personal autonomy. This unique initiative combines services and research, with the ultimate goal of becoming a European Center for Research and Development focused on technical and technological aids for personal autonomy.