On December 13, the ceremony celebrated the contributions made by members of our university community to the reputation of Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. The RESPIVIR France-Canada International Associate Laboratory, created in collaboration with Laval University and involving Virnext, has been selected for the ETOILE2023 call for proposals, which supports excellence in research and innovation in line with the university’s strategic priorities.

This support from UCBL1 for the international dimension of our research, through the award of a PhD grant, complements the funding already obtained from Université Laval, Québec, Canada, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS (IRP2023) and the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Pack Ambition International).

Virnext was also awarded the Innovation Prize for its outstanding contribution to the promotion of innovation through its involvement in numerous public-private R&D partnerships, the building of a portfolio of patents and the creation of biotechnology companies and innovative technological services.

Based on integrated fundamental and translational research, the academic team’s innovation and development policy is supported by Virnext and the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1’s subsidiaries EZUS Lyon and Lyon Ingénierie Projet; it aims to create scientific, medical, economic and societal value and is part of the national and European sovereignty approach to protection against emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. This reflects the meaning and the challenge of our commitment.

We would like to sincerely thank Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and all our partners, collaborators and funders for their confidence. Congratulations to all the winners!