Lyon’s metropolis has experienced a radical acceleration of its internationalisation process in the recent years. Indeed, Lyon has become increasingly attractive and visible on the international stage, thanks to the combined actions of OnlyLyon’s teams, governance and partners. This brand has shown its capability of uniting the Lyon region’s vital spark when looking beyond borders. 

The OnlyLyon initiative also relies on local citizens, students, managers, company heads… constituting a community united under the “OnlyLyon Ambassadors” banner, and all sharing the ambition of enhancing Lyon’s reputation on the international level. This network, led by Kristin Mangold, is currently refining its strategy by bringing together the Lyonnais living abroad, but also locally. MIB-EPAS Consortium students had the opportunity to work on the local aspect of OnlyLyon, specifically on increasing collaboration opportunities between OnlyLyon Ambassadors and international networks based in the city.



The students, although beginners in territorial marketing and newcomers to Lyon, succeeded in obtaining interviews from business clubs, cultural centres, chambers of commerce and other institutions. The students had exactly what OnlyLyon teams were looking for: fresh and innovative ideas, without prejudice or moulding. 

Six groups of students took up the challenge to examine local links with Japan, China, the UK, Italy, the USA or Wallonia. Presentations were designed in a very short time, as in hackathon style, and were unanimously recognised by professors and OnlyLyon partners. On top of that, students made recommendations which will be studied by OnlyLyon teams and governance and which without any doubt lay the foundations of future collaborations with locally based international networks. 

iaelyon sends out its sincere appreciation to Kristin Mangold and Charlotte Gombauld – OnlyLyon Ambassadors network coordinators – for their trust.  

Our deepest thanks also go out to the people who made themselves available in order to give interviews to the students:

• Natacha Lalande – European American Chamber of Commerce
• Rémi Petitfrère – Aderly et China Business Club
• Joyling Liu – Fédération des Chefs d’Entreprises Chinois de Lyon
• Jessica Boillot – Nihonjin Kai, l’Association Amicale des Ressortissants Japonais à Lyon et en région
• Yukiko Sugiyama Vincent – Aderly 
• Philip Last – FIBA, the Franco British International Business Association
• Annibale Fracasso – Chambre de Commerce Italienne de Lyon
• Anna Pastore – Institut Culturel Italien
• Yvan Burghgraev – CCFB France Sud, Chambre de Commerce Franco-Belge de la France du Sud
• Patrice Le Grelle – AWEX, Agence Wallonne à l'exportation et aux investissements
• Anna Williate – LYINC International Club
• Jean Charlois – CCEF – Conseillers du Commerce Extérieur de la France en Auvergne Rhône Alpes

> More information on the onlylyon initiative : www.onlylyon.com
> Find out more about iaelyon International Week