The Centre-Val de Loire Region has placed research and innovation in cosmetics at the heart of its regional innovation strategy. As a leader in the sector, it is home to more than 150 cosmetics companies. It has contributed to the creation of the Cosmetic Valley competitiveness cluster, the world's leading network of industries in the sector, and together with Lombardy, supports the Go4Cosmetics European platform on the digital and green transition.

The programme is led by the University of Orléans, in partnership with the University of Tours, the CNRS, Cosmetic Valley and LE STUDIUM Loire Valley IAS. It brings together 12 laboratories and 23 research teams with recognised skills. Research fields covered are plant and biotechnological sourcing, the development of eco-processes for extraction, the characterisation of plant extracts, the formulation and encapsulation of active ingredients, skin biology and the use of new technologies to evaluate the activity and control the safety of cosmetic active ingredients.