Economic Impact of Udice in France

In 2020, BiGGAR Economics was commissioned to consider the economic contribution of the ten leading universities win the Udice group. This included:

• Aix-Marseille Université (AMU);
• Sorbonne Université;
• Université de Bordeaux;
• Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1;
• Université Côte d’Azur;
• Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA);
• Université de Paris;
• Université Paris-Saclay;
• Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL); and
• Université de Strasbourg.

The report considered the three aspects to the case for investing in Universities, namely:

• the strategic case which highlights the ingredients that economies need to thrive and grow and the role which universities play in allowing this to happen;
• the economic case about the economic rate of return which universities generate relative to the income they receive; and
• the fiscal case which reflects the important fiscal contribution they make to local and national finances relative to their income.

The study found that the ten Udice Universities create a sizeable economic footprint, supporting € 41 billion GVA and 364,000 jobs across France. They represent a new generation of universities that are transforming French higher education, drawing together collective research strengths, gaining international recognition and supporting the pillars which are fundamental for economic and social well-being.

The full reports, in French and English can be downloaded from the links below:

• Contribution Économique des Universités de l’Udice (French Report)
• Economic Contribution of the Udice Universities (English Report)