Situated at the intersection of the Paris-Lyon-Strasbourg corridor in Burgundy and well-connected by high-speed rail, Dijon is reclaiming its place as a node of influence—not through grand gestures, but through precise, purposeful planning. From deep-rooted research networks to emerging green industries, the city is demonstrating that excellence and international engagement need not be confined to metropolises.
“We must go one step further, together, to unveil our region’s soul while championing its achievements and bold, innovative projects,” says François Rebsamen, Minister of Regional Planning and President of Greater Dijon. That ambition is increasingly visible in how Dijon approaches urban strategy—not merely through infrastructure, but by aligning innovation ecosystems, academic leadership, and community well-being.
A Smart City With Substance
Dijon may not be the first city to label itself “smart,” but it was the first in Europe to integrate all urban infrastructure management—transport, lighting, waste, and public safety—into a single digital control platform. ON Dijon, launched in 2019, has been hailed as a model of efficiency and sustainability, using real-time data to manage resources and reduce environmental impact.
In parallel, the city is advancing its decarbonisation agenda with projects like the Response initiative, which is turning entire neighbourhoods into positive-energy districts. Hydrogen-powered buses, extensive solar infrastructure, and biomethane injection into heating networks mark the city’s transition from aspiration to implementation.
These efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Dijon has become one of the 100 European cities selected for the EU’s “climate-neutral and smart cities” mission—a validation of its commitment to building urban systems fit for the 21st century.
At the Crossroads of Health, Food & the Environment
While the smart city project garners headlines, Dijon’s quieter transformation is taking place across its research institutions and innovation clusters. With more than 30 laboratories and nearly 100 researchers ranked among the top 2% worldwide, the Burgundy capital has emerged as a hub in fields such as health, agri-food and digital technology.
Institutions like the Centre for Taste and Feeding Behavior and the Institut Agro Dijon exemplify how traditional sectors like gastronomy, wine and agriculture are being reimagined through interdisciplinary research. “Dijon is not just preserving its culinary heritage—it’s turning it into a living laboratory for the future of food,” says Patrick Genie, Manager of the Dijon Convention Bureau. “It might even be one of our best-kept secrets the world should know about.”
The health sciences ecosystem is equally dynamic. Companies such as Urgo, Crossject, and Proteor drive innovation in medical devices and biopharma, supported by a strong academic network and one of France’s leading university hospitals. Recent breakthroughs include needle-free auto-injectors and artificial skin technologies—evidence of a region with the capacity to not just host medical congresses, but contribute meaningfully to their content.
Knowledge Embedded in Place
What sets Dijon apart from other congress destinations isn’t just its infrastructure, but its ability to offer a coherent narrative of innovation grounded in place. It is home to multiple competitiveness clusters, including Vitagora (focused on food innovation), Santenov (health and medtech), and AgrOnov (agroecology), each offering pathways for collaboration between visiting professionals and local researchers.
In this way, hosting a congress in Dijon offers more than access to modern venues and good transport—it enables deep engagement with existing ecosystems of knowledge. This is particularly relevant at a time when event organisers are seeking to maximise the legacy and societal impact of their meetings.
The city’s venues support this ambition. The Dijon Exhibition and Convention Center, located just eight minutes from the TGV station by tramway and adjacent to nearly 1,000 hotel rooms, features 20 rooms accommodating from 30 to 600 seats, 5 exhibition halls, and a neighboring 1,600 seat auditorium. It recently hosted the 11th Regional Hydrogen Days, where over 800 delegates gathered to discuss the topic of “decarbonization and reindustrialization”.
Let’s also mention the International City of Gastronomy and Wine, inaugurated in 2022—a one-of-a-kind culinary hub in France and Europe. Spanning over 6,000 square metres, it offers an immersive journey into food culture through chef-led masterclasses, interactive exhibitions, grand cru tastings, a dedicated gastronomic village, diverse dining options, and even a cinema.
Rethinking Value
As congresses increasingly look for destinations that balance accessibility, affordability, and authenticity, Dijon offers a compelling mix. With 5,000 hotel rooms in Greater Dijon, excellent rail connections in Burgundy and beyond, and a vibrant cultural calendar that includes everything from the International Food Fair to new contemporary music festivals, the city audaciously positions itself as both professional and personal.
Yet what truly distinguishes Dijon is its willingness to rethink the role of the host city itself—not simply as a backdrop for events, but as an active participant in shaping them. Whether it’s providing access to research networks, creating opportunities for policy dialogue, or connecting visiting associations with local stakeholders, the city sees each congress as an opportunity for reciprocal exchange.
As François Rebsamen puts it, “Dijon combines the strengths of a major city with the charm of an authentic French town, a capital for living well, enjoying epicurean delights, and a trailblazer for innovation, unmatched among similar- sized cities.”
More information: congres@otdijon.com / www.destinationdijon.com