35 years of investment in micro- and nanotechnology make Grenoble the leading place in Europe for the semi conductor industry. The international scientific and technological cooperation is illustrated by outstanding projects like MINATEC, the premier centre for innovation in micro- and nanotechnology. Leading international companies like ST-Micro, Motorola or Philips Semiconductor invested 3.2 billion US$ investment for the industrial development of microtechnology.

Grenoble is renowned for its strong innovation capacity associating science and industry in multidisciplinary projects (physics, biology, chemistry, medicine, information processing and technology). The basis of this success relies on the strong connection between national research institutes, universities and international facilities.

The development of nanobiotech is strongly backed up by the local and regional governments who initiated in 2005 the NanoBio Innovation Center, committing the CEA, the University Joseph Fourier as well as the University hospital.

The CEA coordinates in Grenoble the first European Network of Excellence in nanobiotech, Nano2Life. Moreover two Grenoble universities jointly with two national research institutes hold the most advanced European Summer School in nanosciences and nanotechnology – ESONN. About 200 scientists are working in nanobiotech and medical nanotechnology in Grenoble area.