The MSH Lyon St-Étienne is a support and research unit (UAR 2000) comprising 20 engineers, technicians, and administrative staff from the CNRS and the University of Lyon 2. This team is co-funded by seven institutions (CNRS, Université Lumière Lyon 2,Université Jean-Moulin Lyon 3, Université Jean Monnet St-Étienne, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, ENS de Lyon, Sciences Po Lyon).

The higher education and research institutions in the Lyon and Saint-Étienne area, united within the COMUE Université de Lyon, represent the second-largest hub for research and teaching in the social sciences and humanities in France. The majority of the social sciences and humanities research teams within this network are affiliated with the MSH Lyon St-Étienne.

Aware of this rich potential and the crucial role that the social sciences and humanities must play not only in education and research, but also in the creation of economic and social value and in the scientific and cultural influence of the region, the governing bodies of the Maison des Sciences sociales et des Humanités Lyon St-Étienne have agreed to strengthen the synergy among the various social sciences and humanities laboratories and to provide visibility and coherence to their scientific policy across the entire Lyon St-Étienne area.