Lyon, 15th European metropolitan area in 2010 ?

1.7 million inhabitants, 117,500 businesses, 750,000 jobs, the 2^nd university city in France (54 higher education institutions, 18 Grandes Ecoles (elite schools)), 10,000 researchers: these few figures reflect the reality, and explain why Lyon is the only metropolitan area in France (Paris excepted) to be listed among the 30 most attractive European cities.

Highly acclaimed for the excellent quality of its relations with businesses, the scope of skilled workers and the general image of the city, the metropolitan area boasts other more specific merits in terms of telecommunications (40 operators, trial city for Wi-Fi, 30,000km of optical fiber, satellite links, etc.), transport (concentration of international links in Saint-Exupéry airport, dense highway and rail networks), and service quality (international trade shows, hotel industry, leisure activities, etc.).

The ambition shared by Greater Lyon and its partners is clearly defined: to hoist the conurbation to 15^th European position between now and 2010*.

The challenges involve increasing its attractiveness, its international influence, and its European competitiveness.

The resources deployed by Greater Lyon and its partners include boosting the practice of exchange (in terms of financial, but also human and skills resources), detailing businesses' needs and encouraging partners to cooperate, mainly by promoting the local economy (neighborhood logic), and through offering services.

"Greater Lyon, a Business Spirit" is a state of mind, as well as the strategy, philosophy and overall action of the urban community at the service of the businesses on its territory. The whole is characterized by partnership.

(*) currently ranked 19^th, according to the rating carried out by European Cities Monitor 2003. This survey has been conducted for 10 years on 30 large European cities and capitals (Healey&Beaker agency).