COMUNAUTE D'UNIVERSITES ET ETABLISSEMENTS UNIVERSITE DE LYON

Their core work

Université de Lyon is a consortium of universities and research institutions in the Lyon-Saint-Étienne metropolitan area, one of France's largest academic hubs. In H2020, their participation focused heavily on science-society engagement — designing participatory research methods, running European Researchers' Night events, and building science shops that connect communities with university researchers. They specialize in making academic research accessible and responsive to societal needs, particularly through citizen science and community-based participatory approaches.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

From 2014 to 2018, Université de Lyon focused on foundational science-society work: embedding responsible research in university curricula, running Researchers' Night events, and developing governance models for transdisciplinary engagement. From 2017 onward, their work became more applied and community-oriented — building science shops addressing real societal challenges like global health, migration, and social cohesion through citizen science (InSPIRES). Their most recent project (Arqus R.I., 2021) signals a shift toward institutional transformation through the European Universities alliance model.

Moving from organizing science communication events toward embedding participatory research into institutional strategy through the European Universities initiative.

How they like to work

Université de Lyon has participated exclusively as a partner — never as coordinator — across all six projects, suggesting they contribute expertise within larger initiatives rather than leading them. With 61 unique consortium partners across 20 countries, they operate in broad, diverse consortia (typical of CSA coordination and support actions). This makes them a reliable, low-friction partner comfortable working in large multi-national teams, though their lack of coordination experience may be a consideration for those seeking a project lead.

Broad European network spanning 61 unique partners across 20 countries, built primarily through large CSA consortia focused on science-society topics. No single geographic concentration — their partnerships reflect the pan-European nature of science communication and RRI initiatives.

What sets them apart

Université de Lyon brings together multiple institutions in one of France's strongest academic regions, giving it unusual breadth for science-society engagement work. Their combination of community-based participatory research (InSPIRES) with institutional transformation ambitions (Arqus) positions them as a partner that can both do grassroots engagement and drive systemic change within universities. For consortium builders needing a French partner experienced in RRI, citizen science, or public engagement, they are a well-connected and proven choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• InSPIRES
  Largest funded project (EUR 336,386), addressing concrete societal challenges — global health, migration, social cohesion — through science shops and citizen science methods.
• Arqus R.I.
  Most recent project and part of the prestigious European Universities initiative, signaling the organization's move toward institutional-level research transformation.
• NUCLEUS
  Four-year project (2015-2019) tackling how universities can fundamentally rethink their communication and engagement with society — their longest-running H2020 involvement.