The Impact Studio: creating sustainable business models

On Tuesday 9 May 2023, the School of Management and Impact inaugurated its Impact Project Studio (FR), an educational initiative aimed at positioning the School as a major hub of research and innovation in the field of impact. The launch event was an opportunity to reflect on the key challenges of today’s global economy, and to explain how the studio will operate in practical terms. Read our summary of the event.

THE STUDIO’S MISSIONS

Co-founded with the Sciences Po Centre for Entrepreneurship (FR), and in partnership with Accenture, the Studio is both an educational programme and a proactive mentoring initiative. Its aim is to train students in the research and development of business models incorporating impact criteria. The studio will bring together students, academics, international institutions and companies to explore sustainable business models. For students, it will also be a space for inventing and developing innovative impact-driven solutions, then trialling them in the field.

SUMMARY OF THE LAUNCH EVENT

The launch opened with introductions of the studio by Mathias Vicherat, the President of Sciences Po, Natacha Valla, the Dean of the School of Management and Innovation, and Olivier Girard, the managing director of Accenture France/Benelux. Speakers then welcomed their Guest of Honour, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the Economic Counsellor of the International Monetary Fund, for a rich discussion of issues around global growth, current geopolitical challenges and the urgency of ecological transition.

An audience composed of students, partners and representatives from the field of impact heard more about the studio’s specific educational approach in two presentations of typical projects pitched by Sciences Po students. These projects were mentored by Cyrille Antignac, a lecturer on impact investing at the Centre for Entrepreneurship, and Germain Gauthier, a lecturer at the School of Management and Impact.

With this fascinating launch behind it, the studio is looking ahead to the future. Its own promises to be packed with innovative, student-led projects.