# Top 30 research institutes in the Nord department

Tamtam tracks 33 research institutes headquartered in the Nord department. This list ranks the 30 largest by number of employees on LinkedIn, led by University of Lille 1 Sciences and Technology, EDHEC Business School and Université catholique de Lille. Their median headcount is 102. Half of them were founded in 1964 or later. The most common headquarters are Lille (15), Villeneuve-d'Ascq (6) and Roubaix (2).

The research institutes in Nord are predominantly higher education institutions, with a strong focus on science, technology, and engineering. These are mostly large establishments, many of which have a long history.

Key players include the University of Lille 1 Sciences and Technology, a public university specializing in science and technology; EDHEC Business School, which educates future managers; and Université catholique de Lille, an innovative university with a wide range of programs. Institut Pasteur de Lille focuses on fundamental research and prevention in various diseases, while ENSAIT trains engineers in technical textiles. A notable pattern is the concentration of these institutes in Lille, which serves as a central hub for research and higher education in the department.

🇫🇷 Nord · 30 companies · Updated Nov 11, 2026

| # | Company | Industry | Headquarters | Employees | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [University of Lille 1 Sciences and Technology](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/university-of-lille-1-sciences-and-technology) (univ-lille.fr)<br>Public university specializing in science and technology education, research, and innovation, offering diverse programs and fostering academic excellence. | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Lille | 8,043 | 1864 |
| 2 | [EDHEC Business School](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/edhec-business-school) (edhec.edu)<br>Educates future managers globally, offering diverse business programs, fostering innovation, and conducting practical research for societal, business, and student benefit. | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Roubaix | 1,925 | 1906 |
| 3 | [Université catholique de Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/universite-catholique-de-lille) (univ-catholille.fr)<br>An innovative university offering a wide range of programs focusing on teaching, research, and societal service, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and internationalization | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Lille | 1,720 | 1875 |
| 4 | [Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/universite-polytechnique-hauts-de-france) (uphf.fr)<br>A multidisciplinary university offering over 170 academic programs from undergraduate to doctoral level across 3 specialized fields, part of a European University network | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Valenciennes | 1,240 | 1964 |
| 5 | [Centrale Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/centrale-lille) (centralelille.fr)<br>Public higher education institution providing engineering and research training through four specialized schools and multiple master's and doctoral programs. | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Villeneuve-d'Ascq | 544 | 1854 |
| 6 | [Junia_ingénieurs](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/junia-ingenieurs) (junia.com)<br>Engineering school providing rigorous, human-centered education and applied research to prepare students for industrial, digital, and environmental challenges. | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Lille | 540 | 1885 |
| 7 | [IMT Nord Europe](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/imt-nord-europe) (imt-nord-europe.fr)<br>Collaboration between Mines Douai and Télécom Lille created IMT Lille Douai, the largest engineering school in northern France, focusing on research and education in various fields including Big Data, cybersecurity, 3D printing, energy, and environment | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Villeneuve-d'Ascq | 490 | 2017 |
| 8 | [Sciences Po Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/sciences-po-lille) (sciencespo-lille.eu)<br>Teaches students social sciences and politics through a five-year curriculum, granting a Master's degree. One of nine French Political Studies Institutes. | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Lille | 416 | 1991 |
| 9 | [Institut Pasteur de Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/institut-pasteur-de-lille) (pasteur-lille.fr)<br>A foundation focusing on fundamental research and prevention in infectious diseases, cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases to improve health and longevity | Research Services | 🇫🇷 Lille | 383 | 1894 |
| 10 | [Institut Catholique de Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/institut-catholique-de-lille) (univ-catholille.fr)<br>Higher education institution with 13 establishments, research activities, and healthcare services including hospitals and medico-social centers across multiple campuses. | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Lille | 343 | 1875 |
| 11 | [Polytech Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/polytech-lille) (polytech-lille.fr)<br>Polytech Lille is a leading engineering school in France, offering high-quality education focused on innovation, collaboration with industry, and international experience for students | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Villeneuve-d'Ascq | 281 |  |
| 12 | [Faculté de Droit - Université Catholique de Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/faculte-de-droit-universite-catholique-de-lille) (fld-lille.fr)<br>Studying at FLD is joining France's leading private law school with a focus on academic excellence and innovation Part of the Catholic University of Lille since 1875 | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Lille | 211 | 1875 |
| 13 | [ENSAIT : École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Industries Textiles](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/ensait-ecole-nationale-superieure-des-arts-et-industries-textiles) (ensait.fr)<br>Trains professional engineers through classical and apprenticeship tracks specializing in technical textiles and fashion services for various global industrial applications. | Research Services | 🇫🇷 Roubaix | 177 | 1881 |
| 14 | [LAMIH UMR CNRS 8201 \| UPHF](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/lamih-umr-cnrs-8201-uphf) (uphf.fr)<br>The company conducts research on human-centered engineering in areas such as transportation, security, mobility, and disability, leading innovation and collaborating with industrial partners | Research Services | 🇫🇷 Valenciennes | 113 | 1994 |
| 15 | [CNRS Hauts-de-France](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/cnrs-hauts-de-france) (hauts-de-france.cnrs.fr)<br>This organization in Hauts-de-France represents CNRS locally, managing administrative and financial resources, providing support to labs, and assisting CNRS agents | Research Services | 🇫🇷 Lille | 102 | 1939 |
| 16 | [Mines Douai](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/mines-douai) (imt-nord-europe.fr)<br>IMT Nord Europe is an engineering school in partnership with the University of Lille, dedicated to training leaders in energy, environmental, industrial, and digital transitions | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Douai | 101 | 1968 |
| 17 | [INSPÉ Lille HdF](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/inspe-lille-hdf) (inspe-lille-hdf.fr)<br>A teaching and education institute based in the Hauts-de-France region, providing training and resources for aspiring educators in Lille | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Villeneuve-d'Ascq | 94 |  |
| 18 | [Institut de Recherche Technologique RAILENIUM](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/institut-de-recherche-technologique-railenium) (railenium.eu)<br>Railenium is a research institute in the railway sector, collaborating with academia, industry, and public authorities to develop innovative technologies and solutions | Rail Transportation | 🇫🇷 Famars | 71 | 2012 |
| 19 | [SATT Nord](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/satt-nord) (sattnord.fr)<br>Supports companies by providing access to public research innovations, expert guidance, risk sharing, and connections to accelerate technology commercialization. | Research Services | 🇫🇷 Lille | 66 | 2012 |
| 20 | [UFR3S - Département de Médecine - Université de Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/ufr3s-departement-de-medecine-universite-de-lille)<br>Official page of UFR3S-Medicine at the University of Lille, offering academic programs and resources in the field of medicine | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Loos | 65 |  |
| 21 | [UFR3S - Département de Pharmacie - Université de Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/ufr3s-departement-de-pharmacie-universite-de-lille) (ufr3s.univ-lille.fr)<br>A leading pharmacy faculty in France, offering training, research, and professional development in pharmaceutical and biological sciences, with international partnerships and innovative programs | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Lille | 61 |  |
| 22 | [IAE Valenciennes](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/iae-valenciennes) (uphf.fr)<br>An academic unit within a larger institute at the University Polytechnique Hauts-de-France providing management education at IAE Valenciennes | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Famars | 61 | 1996 |
| 23 | [Faculté des sciences et technologies - Université de Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/faculte-des-sciences-et-technologies-universite-de-lille) (sciences-technologies.univ-lille.fr)<br>A leading academic institution at the University of Lille offering quality multidisciplinary education and research in various science and technology fields | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Villeneuve-d'Ascq | 61 | 2017 |
| 24 | [CETI Transformative Textiles](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/ceti-transformative-textiles) (ceti.com)<br>European platform for textile experimentation, engineering, and prototyping, advancing circularity and sustainable digital transformation in diverse textile sectors. | Textile Manufacturing | 🇫🇷 Tourcoing | 43 | 2012 |
| 25 | [Université Lille 3 Charles de Gaulle](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/universite-lille-3-charles-de-gaulle)<br>A higher education institution in France, located in Villeneuve-D'Ascq, offering various programs and opportunities for academic and personal growth | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Villeneuve-d'Ascq | 39 |  |
| 26 | [Yncréa Hauts-de-France](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/yncrea-hauts-de-france) (junia.com)<br>Junia is a school of engineering and research that focuses on addressing major challenges such as feeding the planet and accelerating urban energy transition | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Lille | 25 | 1885 |
| 27 | [HYGEOS](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/hygeos) (hygeos.com)<br>Specializing in remote sensing and planetary radiative transfer, the company focuses on utilizing Earth Observation technologies for various applications | Research Services | 🇫🇷 Lille | 17 | 2001 |
| 28 | [IRCL -Institut pour la Recherche sur le Cancer de Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/ircl-institut-pour-la-recherche-sur-le-cancer-de-lille) (ircl.org)<br>An independent foundation dedicated to cancer research in the Hauts de France region since 1936 | Biotechnology Research | 🇫🇷 Lille | 9 | 1936 |
| 29 | [Laboratoire de Toxicologie Génétique](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/laboratoire-de-toxicologie-genetique) (mutagenese.pasteur-lille.fr)<br>The Genetic Toxicology Laboratory at the Institut Pasteur de Lille specializes in evaluating genotoxic potential of various substances and conducts research on related topics | Research Services | 🇫🇷 Lille | 8 | 1981 |
| 30 | [DAPI - Université de Lille](https://www.tamtam.ai/c/dapi-universite-de-lille) (dapi.univ-lille.fr)<br>The company supports the development of pedagogical practices, facilitates exchanges on pedagogical issues, and contributes to university pedagogy research | Higher Education | 🇫🇷 Lille | 6 |  |

## How this list is built

Every company on this list has a Tamtam company profile. The industry is the one the company gives on LinkedIn; categories such as SaaS or fintech are classified by Tamtam's AI from the company's website and LinkedIn page; and the headquarters city must match the company's own address. Companies are ranked by the number of employees on LinkedIn, and the list is refreshed every night. Classifications can be wrong, so treat the list as a starting point rather than an official ranking. Last updated Nov 11, 2026.

## More company lists in the Nord department

- [The largest companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/largest-companies-nord) (2,806)
- [Multinational companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/multinational-companies-nord) (332)
- [Retail chains in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/retail-chains-nord) (268)
- [Companies with in-house R&D in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/r-and-d-companies-nord) (237)
- [Manufacturers in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/manufacturers-nord) (204)
- [Professional services firms in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/professional-services-firms-nord) (178)
- [IT services companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/it-services-companies-nord) (170)
- [IT Services and IT Consulting companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/it-services-and-it-consulting-companies-nord) (169)
- [SaaS companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/saas-companies-nord) (163)
- [Family-owned companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/family-owned-companies-nord) (156)
- [Software Development companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/software-development-companies-nord) (141)
- [Public sector organisations in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/public-sector-organisations-nord) (135)
- [Distributors and wholesalers in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/distributors-and-wholesalers-nord) (133)
- [Hardware manufacturers in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/hardware-companies-nord) (124)
- [Consulting firms in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/consulting-firms-nord) (115)
- [Retail companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/retail-companies-nord) (108)
- [Education providers in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/education-companies-nord) (103)
- [Real Estate companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/real-estate-companies-nord) (92)
- [Critical infrastructure operators in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/critical-infrastructure-operators-nord) (87)
- [Companies with a mobile app in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/companies-with-mobile-app-nord) (83)
- [Healthcare providers in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/healthcare-providers-nord) (82)
- [E-commerce companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/ecommerce-companies-nord) (81)
- [Financial services firms in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/financial-services-firms-nord) (81)
- [Business Consulting and Services companies in the Nord department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/business-consulting-and-services-companies-nord) (81)

## The same list elsewhere in France

- [Research institutes in France](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-france) (965)
- [Research institutes in Île-de-France](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-ile-de-france) (329)
- [Research institutes in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-auvergne-rhone-alpes) (99)
- [Research institutes in Grand Est](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-grand-est) (97)
- [Research institutes in Occitanie](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-occitanie) (91)
- [Research institutes in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-provence-alpes-cote-dazur) (74)
- [Research institutes in Nouvelle-Aquitaine](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-nouvelle-aquitaine) (73)
- [Research institutes in the Bouches-du-Rhône department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-bouches-du-rhone) (51)
- [Research institutes in the Haute-Garonne department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-haute-garonne) (51)
- [Research institutes in Hauts-de-France](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-hauts-de-france) (49)
- [Research institutes in the Rhône department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-rhone) (48)
- [Research institutes in the Essonne department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-essonne) (42)
- [Research institutes in Brittany](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-brittany) (36)
- [Research institutes in the Gironde department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-gironde) (35)
- [Research institutes in the Isère department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-isere) (31)
- [Research institutes in Pays de la Loire](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-pays-de-la-loire) (31)
- [Research institutes in the Hérault department](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-herault) (29)
- [Research institutes in Normandy](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-normandy) (27)
- [Research institutes in Paris](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-paris) (200)
- [Research institutes in Toulouse](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-toulouse) (48)
- [Research institutes in Marseille](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-marseille) (41)
- [Research institutes in Montpellier](https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-montpellier) (29)

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Source: https://www.tamtam.ai/l/research-institutes-nord