Chemical,
petrochemical, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and biotechnological
industries represent one of the most advanced industrial
poles in the Rhône-Alpes region and in France. It has rivaled
the major European cities since the begining of the 20th century
thanks to the local presence of the decision centre of global
industrial companies and their research labs.
The
core they make up relies on engineering schools (ESCPE-Lyon,
INSA-Lyon), independent labs CNRS (IRC), a university (Claude
Bernard Lyon 1 University), 13 research teams in chemistry,
biochemistry, and process engineering under contract with CNRS
and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. These labs
are particularly competitive in chemistry, catalysis and process
engineering and have gained international recognition in their
fields of study.
Despite
the worldwide restructuring of chemical industries leading to
scaling-downs and cuts, most of these global companies have
maintained their research activities in Lyon. Some have even
further developed their presence (AVENTIS, BIOMERIEUX ELF-TOTAL-FINA,
IFP, L'OREAL, MERK-LIPHA...), thanks to an evergrowing integration
with local universities. Local universities represent a breeding
ground for the technologies of the future thanks to a deliberate
policy promoting high-standard technical centres (analytical
and bio-analitical sciences, catalysis, tools for organic synthesis,
inorganic materials, chemistry and combinatory catalysis (development),
etc.
Victor
Grignard, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1916, headed
the School of Chemistry historically linked to Claude Bernard Lyon
1 University. Thanks to a deliberate policy promoting international
recruitments, a very favourable local breeding ground as well as a
particularly attractive post-graduate course, organic chemistry in
Lyon has gained worldwide recognition and provides the national, European,
and global industries with highly-praised engineers and researchers.
research
is currently clearly directed to living
sciences.
Homogeneous
and heterogeneous catalysis :
A
worldwide influence :
Homogeneous
and heterogeneous catalysis is the field of study gathering the highest
number of researchers and professors, of labs with complementary competences
(one CNRS independent lab, six joint research units, ...), equiped
with a high-performance technical centre. In Lyon, research on catalysis
is mainly conducted on the la Doua Science Park. It gained much of
its strength from the presence of and syngergy with major local chemical,
pharmaceutical and petrochemical companies. Research is now opening
up to global industrial chemistry and has a worldwide influence.
One
of the few science parks where homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis
come together :
For
historical reasons, in most universities, homogeneous (molecular)
catalysis and heterogeneous (solid state) catalysis have been set
apart geographically and considered as different areas of research.
La Doua is one of the few science parks in the world where the two
fields come together in closely located labs and as part of common
curriculae and research projects (with many researchers and professors).
Creation
of a catalysis pole in Lyon :
The
significant impact of the synergy between those labs is mainly due
to the recent creation of a catalysis pole in Lyon. This pole is a
place bustling with organised activities and cooperation. All aspects
of modern catalysis are represented : major catalysis and catalyser
classes, catalysis and the environment, catalysis and fine chemistry,
asymmetrical catalysis, polymers, kinetics, catalytical process engineering,
surface analysis methods, surface metalorganic chemistry , etc.
Process
engineering :
Lyon
now is a major pole for process engineering in France with worldwide
influence. Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University's and ESCPE-Lyon's
labs together with CNRS are conducting pioneering research in close
collaboration with local industries.
These
labs are conducting their research at the crossroads of process engineering
and chemistry, catalysis, polymerisation, living sciences, and pharmaceuticals.
Automation, process control modelling are also present there. The
whole pole is dedicated to themes such as environmental protection,
solid chain process, and active principle vectorisation.
Researchers and professors in Lyon heavily contribute to the organisation
and assessment of curriculae and research projects both nationally
and internationally.
Environmental
chemistry :
Although
it encompasses fields ranging from catalysis, to analysis and bio
analysis, environmental chemistry is a strong point with several joint
research units from Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University and INSA-Lyon.
For instance, catalysers are developed to process gas or liquid effluents
as well as ground effluents originating from chemical and car industries,
from thermal power stations and the nuclear industry. Other labs are
concerned with the follow-up of industrial and household waste.
Analytical
sciences :
Analytical sciences have historically been one of the strongest
points of chemistry in Lyon. They are now confronted with a real challenge,
since they only can process, sample, identify and quantify elements,
molecules, macromolecules, proteins... present in many different environments
as traces or ultratraces. They have progressively adapted to the design
of new analysis methods which are more and more sensitive, specialised
traces and ultra traces (environmental, food-processing, high-tech
materials, living sciences).
Current
creation of the Institute of Analytical and Bio-analytical Chemistry
:
Originally focusing on electrochemistry, chromatography, separation
methods and method coupling, analytical chemistry in Lyon is currently
undergoing deep restructuring with the development of a high-performance
centre equiped with powerful analytical tools on the la Doua Science
Park. This institute will be one of the jewels of la Doua thanks to
its powerful research capabilities, its federating influence and its
effective synergy with the local, national and European industries.
A whole array of major modern analytical tools such as mass spectrometry,
X-rays, coupled methods, NMR, medical and materials imaging, nanotechnologies
for rapid protein identification is available.
Bordering
on living matter, a strong and original research activity, which
gained worldwide recognition and had started developing in 1975 gave
rise to collaborations with industries (Tacussel radiometer analytical)
and the marketing of an enzymatic electrode (RTM lab). Current research
focuses on optical bio-captors and biomimetic nanostructures (nanotechnologies).
Polymers
:
Six labs (160 staff and researchers in CNRS labs) deal with polymers
on the la Doua Science Park.
Polymer
research draws on
a strong industrial environment (about 20% of the national
production of polymers and 25% of the transformation industry including
composites are to be found in the Rhône-Alpes region).
Polymers
include
commodity polymers as well as technical polymers and biomaterials
therefore comprising thermoplastics, thermohardener resins, composites
and multimaterials.
The six labs conducting their research on polymers are very dynamic
and open to the economic world (regional, national and international).
The
scope of the research conducted is very broad. Indeed, it covers chemistry,
polymer physico-chemistry and physics where polymers are regarded
as materials, synthesis chemistry, chemical engineering and polymer
chemistry, characterisation and both physico-chemical and use properties
of polymers.
Technological
centres :
NMR
centre (nine machines), X-ray diffraction centre, mass spectrometry
centre, electron microscopy centres, absorbtion/emission atomic and
molecular spectroscopy labs (ICP, ARC, Fluo X...), separation methods
(CPG, HPLC, IC...), electrochemical methods (potentiometry, polarography,
coulometry,...), thermal analysis (ATG, DSC, microscopy/IR).
Training
:
Initial
training :
2
engineering schools : ESCPE-Lyon, INSA-Lyon
1 university : Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University
Continuing
training :
ESCPE-Lyon - UCBL
Focus
on the main undergraduate courses :
Licence de chimie (3-year chemistry degree)
Licence de chimie-physique (3-year chemistry and physics
degree)
Licence de biochimie (3-year biochemistry degree)
Licence IUP biotechnologies et bio-industrie (3-year vocational
degree in biotechnologies and bio-industries)
Licence professionnelle productique des outillages pour
la mise en oeuvre des plastiques (3-year vocational degree
in industrial tool automation for plastics)
Licence professionnelle création d'activités nouvelles
en agroalimentaire (3-year vocational degree in inovation
and food-processing)
Maîtrise de sciences physiques (4-year physics degree)
Maîtrise de chimie - physique (4-year chemistry and physics
degree)
Maîtrise de biochimie mention biochimie moléculaire et
cellulaire (4-year biochemistry degree with majors in
molecular and cell biochemistry)
Maîtrise de biochimie mention biochimie structurale (4-year
biochemistry degree with major in structural biochemistry)
Maîtrise de sciences des matériaux (4-year materials sciences
degree)
Maîtrise IUP biotechnologies et bio-industrie (4-year
vocational degree in biotechnologies and bio-industries)
Focus
on the post graduate courses :
DESS de chimie et génie de la formulation (vocational
post-graduate degree in chemistry and formulation engineering)
Lyon post-graduaste school of chemistry (Chemistry Processes
Environment) :
- DEA chimie organique fine (post-graduate research certificate
in fine organic chemistry)
- DEA catalyse et chimie physique des interfaces (post-graduate
research certificate in catalysis and physical chemistry
of interfaces)
- DEA Sciences et stratégies analytiques (post-graduate
research certificate in analytical sciences and strategies)
- DEA chimie inorganique (post-graduate research certificate
in inorganic chemistry)
- DEA génie des procédés (post-graduate research certificate
in process engineering)
- DEA sciences et techniques du déchet (post-graduate
research certificate in waste science and technologies)
Science and healthcare post-graduate school (EDISS):
- DEA génie biologique et médical (post-graduate research
certificate in biology and medical engineering)
- DEA biochimie (post-graduate research certificate in
biochemistry).
Lyon materials post-graduate school :
- DEA matériaux polymères composites (post-graduate research
certificate in composite polymers).
Awards
:
Jean-Marie
BASSET (Laboratoire de Chimie Organométallique de Surface) :
1998, Académie des Sciences (IFP) Grand Prix for his work on "organometallic
surface chemistry".
Marco
CIUFOLINI (Laboratoire de méthodologie et synthèse organiques)
:
Prix Merck 2000 for his work on "multistage synthesis".
Jacques
GORE (Méthodes et Applications en Synthèse Organique) :
1999, Académie des Sciences Emile JUNGFLEISCH award for his work on
"organic synthesis and its benefits".
Christian
GRAILLAT (Laboratoire de Chimie et Procédés de Polymérisation)
:
1999, CNRS crystal medal for his SMI project : "From the lab to the
production unit including entrepreneurial training for engineers".
Marc
LEMAIRE (Méthodes et Applications en Synthèse Organique) :
1999, Académie des Sciences LANGEVIN award and BERTHELOT medal for
his work on "functional polymers".
Joseph
LIETO (Laboratoire d'Automatique et de Génie des Procédés) :
ROBERVAL award for his book on Process Engineering for Chemists.
Michel
PRIMET (Laboratoire d'Application de la Chimie à l'Environnement)
:
1998, Académie des Sciences (GDF) Grand Prix for his works on "catalysis
and gaseous effluents processing".
Nathalie
TANCHOUX (Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés Catalytiques) :
1999 Ville de Lyon Grand prix for her work on "conception par voie
génie des Procédés d'un réacteur de fabrication de zéolithe".
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252 researchers and 212 PhD students work in chemistry,
catalysis and process engineering
Research
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