Nestled at the crossroads of the Vercors, Chartreuse and Belledonne massifs, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole brings together 450,000 inhabitants and 49 urban, rural and mountain municipalities: a territory in which persists a subtle balance between a preserved natural environment and a developed urban centre, between the two rivers irrigating its territory, the Isère et the Drac.
Beyond this unique mountain character, favourable to all-seasons leisure activities, its economic dynamism and the potential of its research centres make it an extremely attractive territory for many French or international companies which have established their headquarters, R&D centres or production units here.
This scientific excellence and this capacity for innovation are, and have been for more than a century, the main engines of the local economy and a defining aspect of Grenoble’s identity making it a city recognised for its pioneering character.
As a 2,000-year-old city, Grenoble is also a city of art and history which can be discovered through its ancient heritage, its architectural innovations and its museums. From avant-garde galleries to national stages, Grenoble proudly cultivates a unique position in France.
As a land of Resistance to Nazism during World War II, the Dauphinoise city claims its status as a welcoming land. During its contemporary history, it has welcomed many immigrants and refugees from all continents, making it a cosmopolitan metropolis, open to cultures from all over the world.
The Capital of the Alpes is also characterized by the youth of its population. This dynamic is reinforced by the attractiveness of its university, which brings together more than 65,000 students with 180 different nationalities and which, in 2020, rose to the top 100 of the Shanghai ranking.
Grenoble-Alpes is also a territory where the reality of climate change is imposed on a daily basis. Due to its mountain environment, the consequences are more visible and changes faster than elsewhere.
The Metropolis relies heavily on technological and societal innovation to make the challenge of ecological transition a reality, in line with the ‘Grenoble model’ based on close relationships between universities, businesses and research laboratories: a model born at the dawn of the 20th century, when the pioneers of ‘white coal’ invented and developed here one of the most beautiful sources of renewable energy: the hydroelectric industry.
