Bio-inspired eco-chemist Claude Grison receives the insignia of Officer of the National Order of Merit

Article by Camille Fontaine

Prof. Dr. Claude Grison, a research director at the CNRS and director of the Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Chemistry and Ecological Innovations, was awarded the insignia of Officer of the National Order of Merit yesterday, September 23, 2026.

This honor, granted by presidential decree published in the Official Journal on May 15, was presented to him by Françoise Gaill, emeritus research director at the CNRS and a leading figure in marine biology and oceanography. The ceremony took place at 5:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the CNRS regional office in Montpellier, in the presence of his family, his research teams, and representatives from the scientific and academic communities.

Claude Grison heads the Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Chemistry and Ecological Innovations (ChimEco), a Joint Research Unit affiliated with the CNRS and the University of Montpellier (located at the Cap Delta biopark). A professor at the Collège de France holding the annual “Sustainable Common Future” chair (2025–2026), she is also a member of the French Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Pharmacy, and the European Academy of Sciences.

As the originator of the Ecocatalyse® concept, Claude Grison has pioneered a new area of research at the intersection of bio-inspired chemistry and scientific ecology. His work has paved the way for a new green industry that combines the ecological restoration of polluted terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the conservation of wetlands threatened by invasive species, and the unprecedented chemical and economic utilization of phytotechnologies to promote biodiversity.

Claude Grison is now applying this approach to the pharmaceutical sector, with the goal of contributing to the production in Europe of essential active ingredients that are currently at risk of shortages. This regenerative chemistry makes it possible to rethink how these ingredients are produced, from the sourcing of raw materials to the synthesis processes. To support the transition of this research to an industrial scale and help address health sovereignty challenges, a fourth company spun off from the ChimEco laboratory is currently being established.

Author of 194 scientific publications and 47 patents, and founder of three companies (Stratoz, BIOINSPIR, and Laboratoires Bioprotection), her work has been recognized with 15 major scientific awards, including the CNRS Innovation Medal (2014), the European Inventor Award (2022), and the Woman of Influence Award (2023).

Média Dreams
September 28, 2026

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