1894
Marcel Mérieux joins Institut Pasteur
Who we are
An Entrepreneurial and Family Journey Combining Vision and Innovation
From Pasteurian Tradition to an International Group
To tell the story of Institut Mérieux is to trace two deeply intertwined stories from the late 19th century: that of a family of biology entrepreneurs rooted in the Pasteurian tradition, and that of scientific and technological advances in the fight against infectious diseases.
1897
Institut Mérieux is founded in Lyon
1917
Operations established in Marcy-l’Étoile, near Lyon
1937
Charles Mérieux takes over as head of Institut Mérieux
1963
Creation of bioMérieux, dedicated to in vitro diagnostics
1967
Creation of the Fondation Mérieux
1968
Alain Mérieux becomes Chairman of Institut Mérieux
1974
bioMérieux listed on the Paris Stock Exchange
1994
Vaccine business divested to Pasteur Mérieux Connaught
1997
Acquisition of Silliker, a food safety specialist
2001
Creation of the Fondation Christophe et Rodolphe Mérieux
2010
Creation of Mérieux NutriSciences
2014
Alexandre Mérieux becomes Chairman of Institut Mérieux
2018
Creation of Mérieux Equity Partners
2022
Strategic partnership with EXOR
2023
Alexandre Mérieux is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of bioMérieux — Institut Mérieux takes a stake in OXB
2025
Institut Mérieux takes a stake in Ceva Animal Health
Merger of the two foundations within Fondation Mérieux
Keep scrolling to discover our history
Institut Mérieux Today
“We are a family holding company that leads companies with complementary activities. Institut Mérieux is a majority shareholder in four companies that form the core of its bioindustrial group: bioMérieux, Mérieux NutriSciences, Transgene and Mérieux Equity Partners. This group brings together 23,000 employees in more than 45 countries, while maintaining a strong presence in France. In addition, Institut Mérieux is also a committed shareholder alongside the management teams of two other companies, Ceva and OXB, within the framework of strategic partnerships.”
Gouvernance
The governance of Institut Mérieux relies on an experienced management team sharing the same vision for public health. Institut Mérieux plays a strategic coordination role for its various companies and fosters exchanges and synergies across all areas.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors defines the strategic directions of Institut Mérieux and ensures their implementation in accordance with the group’s values.
It draws on complementary areas of expertise and upholds a demanding governance model grounded in long-term vision, ethics and accountability.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee oversees the operational management of Institut Mérieux.
It coordinates cross-functional activities, supports the group’s companies in addressing their strategic challenges, and fosters coherence, knowledge-sharing and synergies in service of sustainable performance and public health.
Corporate
Responsibility
Three dimensions shape our day-to-day operations:
Combining responsibility, innovation and positive impact to address environmental, social and ethical challenges.
ENVIRONMENT
Convinced that human health depends on a preserved environment, we are accelerating the decarbonization of our operations, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, combating all forms of pollution and optimizing our waste management.
SOCIAL
The strength of Institut Mérieux lies in the commitment of its employees. We foster open and constructive social dialogue, ensure the well-being and professional development of each person, and invest in continuing education through Mérieux Université.
GOVERNANCE
The daily activities of governing bodies and employees are guided by a code of conduct that upholds the highest standards in ethics, anti-corruption and data protection.
Mérieux Université
Founded in 2014, our corporate university supports thousands of employees each year in their professional development.
Our goal: to build managerial and collaborative skills, embed the group’s culture and prepare teams to meet the challenges ahead.
+15,000
/year
participations in in-person or online training sessions and workshops
~7,000
/year
group employees benefit from our development offering
