Montpellier Scientific Community

Montpellier has long been a bastion of academic excellence – its first university was founded in the 13th century.

As a result of the government’s continued efforts to group together French expertise in this field since the 1970s, Montpellier and its region have become today’s home to one of the world’s largest concentration of scientific skills and expertise (more than 2,300 scientists) in agriculture, food, biodiversity and environment with specific focus on tropical and Mediterranean regions.

A world-class scientific network within the Montpellier scientific community

Agropolis Fondation works with 31 research units specializing in plant research at various levels- from its genes to its environments to its final uses. Altogether, the 31 research unit, which is a subset of the Montpellier scientific community, makes up the Foundation’s scientific network.

The network involves about 800 scientists and 400 PhD students and covers a wide range of disciplines, i.e., from bio-technical to social sciences and with recognized expertise in temperate, tropical and Mediterranean regions. These research units are collectively working on two scientific domains: Integrative Plant Biology as well as Social and Technological Dynamics of Innovation.

The network also has strong ties with three local competitive research clusters, on food quality, risk management, and fruits & vegetables.

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The various research grants and support awards being offered by Agropolis Fondation provide an excellent entry point for leading and promising international scientists to work with the Foundation’s scientific network in Montpellier. These also serve as opportunities to broaden and reinforce international research partnerships in addressing key scientific challenges of our time.

Learn more about our fellowships and support awards >

Cutting-edge research facilities

The Foundation’s scientific network has access to first-rate research facilities, including laboratories, experimental fields, technical platforms and an outstanding germplasm repository of temperate, Mediterranean and tropical crop species.

Scientific platforms and facilities >

Collections >

Experimental stations, greenhouses and chambers >

Graduate Schools >

Unique scientific focus

We support joint scientific research between leading scientists and partners from around the world and our scientific network on the following themes:

Integrative Plant Biology (the study of the complex interactions of a plant’s biological systems)
Social and Technological Dynamics of Innovation (an integrated multidisciplinary approach to the social, economic and technical aspects of innovation in agricultural development).

The main issues addressed are the increasing demand for plants and plant by-products for both food and non-food applications; the interaction between climate change and crops; and the prevention and management of risks related to crop and food systems.

Campuses

The research units of the Foundation’s scientific network are located on three campuses in Montpellier and one in Avignon.

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Quality of life

Montpellier offers not only excellent science but excellent quality of life as well. Its historic charm, active cultural life and natural beauty have been attracting more and more people recently. The Agropolis Foundation and its scientific network are located in and around Montpellier, on France’s Mediterranean coast.

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Montpellier