The French National Research Agency Investments for the Future

As part of a government initiative to reinforce long-term French competitiveness, a major programme called “Investments for the Future” ("Investissements d'Avenir") was launched at the end of 2009.

The ANR is the operator for the research and higher education component of this programme, which covers 21.9 billion euros.

The programme is part of a long-term and dynamic drive to transform higher education, research and innovation. These large-scale initiatives promoting excellence will strengthen France’s capacities for innovation and be a driving force in the dynamics of growth in the coming years.

Nantes University

As a major center for higher education and research in western France, Nantes University hosts over 46.000 students. Research is a major growth sector for Nantes University with more than 3.200 permanent and contract research staff and 75 accredited research facilities.

The “Biology, Biotechnology and Health” division is the largest in the University and involves approximately 700 researchers serving in 15 accredited laboratories. Nantes University is very open with partnerships, with about 300 universities in Europe and more than 150 others around the world.

Nantes University Hospital

As the leading healthcare establishment in the Pays de la Loire region, the Nantes University Hospital has 11.770 staff: 12.570consultants, interns and medical students and 9.200 nurses, technicians and administrative operatives

For over 20 years, the Nantes University Hospital has been committed to an extremely pro-active biomedical research policy and is now one of France’s top 10 university medical research centers. Currently, close to 1.000 researchers and research staffs are working on the Nantes University Hospital site and more than 760 clinical trials are running.

The French Health and Medical Research Institute

Currently, the Grand Ouest INSERM regional delegation responds to the need of around 1000 people involved in the medical research activities of 45 research units including 27 laboratories, one Research Center, 3 young teams (called “Avenir”) ,6 IFRs (Federal Research Institute) and 7 CICs (Clinical Research Institute).

Pays de la Loire Region

The Pays de la Loire Region, ranked 3^rd industrially in France, constructs real areas of excellence, with a strong national and international reputation. Health represents a major field of research supported by the region.

Nantes Metropole

As the 6^th largest French Metropolis, Nantes is western France’s leading research and teaching campus. Since 2000 , Nantes Metropole has invested is one of the major support of research development in the metropole..

ONIRIS - Nantes Veterinary School

ONIRIS, the Nantes Atlantic College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Sciences and Engineering & Nutrition is deeply rooted in its surrounding area, with a European outlook and is involved in a wide range of issues including animal health and public health, clinical and biomedical fields, health biotechnologies, food science and processing technology.

The French competitivity Cluster “Atlanpole Biotherapies”