The Montpellier Innovation Booster returns to the UM

From February 6 to 8, the University of Montpellier welcomed thirteen project leaders to the first session of the Montpellier Innovation Booster (BIM) of 2024. Doctoral students, doctors and researchers, all of them innovators, came together for three days of training, at the end of which one or more winners will receive funding.

" You're on the front page of a media outlet in 2030, what success or achievement is highlighted in the article? " This was one of the questions the thirteen participants in the Montpellier Innovation Booster had to answer during a workshop offered by the innovation consultancy hired for the occasion. It was an interesting exercise in getting participants to think introspectively and prospectively about their project, and to identify the needs of the market in which it fits.

Raphael Girardin, Head of Entrepreneurship atInstitut Agro and current coach on M6's "Qui veut être mon associé", has proposed a training course dedicated to pitch mastery. The aim? To make business owners more convincing when presenting the innovative aspect of their project, particularly during the final phase in front of the BIM jury. Another module on offer: the basics of commercialization. This will help them to protect their innovation and make it available to the widest possible audience.

At the end of the three days, 15 coaches from the Montpellier innovation ecosystem (Université de Montpellier, SATT AxLR, Ad'OCC, Institut Agro, 3M, BPI France, CHU de Montpellier, etc.) advised the participants before their final presentation to the jury. The jury was made up of PUI experts and Philippe Combette, Vice-President in charge of partnerships and innovation at the University of Montpellier.

Tools to help improve the quality of consultations between doctors and patients, new hormone screening methods to maximize the success of in vitro fertilization techniques, and new tests to optimize the management of lung cancer patients are just some of the innovations presented.

After this first session, participants will be able to apply for the "BIM Laureates" awards, with funding at stake and the hope of taking their innovation to the next level.