Montpellier’s Innovation Booster Kicks Off the New School Year atUM
From February 6 to 8, the University of Montpellier hosted thirteen project leaders during this first session of the Montpellier Innovation Booster (BIM) for 2024. Doctoral students and researchers—all with innovative projects—gathered 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 news 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 led by the innovation consulting firm hired for the occasion. It was an interesting exercise designed to encourage participants to reflect both introspectively and prospectively on their project and to identify the needs of the market in which it operates.
Raphael Girardin, head of Entrepreneurshipat Institut Agro and current coach on the M6 TV show “Qui veut être mon associé,” has developed a training program focused on mastering the pitch. The goal? To help entrepreneurs be more persuasive when presenting the innovative aspects of their projects, particularly during the final phase before the BIM jury. Another module offered covers the basics of commercialization. These will enable entrepreneurs to protect their innovations and bring them to the widest possible audience.
At the end of the three days, 15 coaches from Montpellier’s innovation ecosystem (University of Montpellier, SATT AxLR, Ad’OCC, Institut Agro, 3M, BPI France, Montpellier University Hospital, etc.) provided guidance to the participants ahead of their final presentation to the jury. The jury was composed of experts from the PUI and Philippe Combette, vice president for partnerships and innovation at the University of Montpellier.
Examples of the innovations presented include tools that will help improve the quality of consultations between doctors and patients; new methods for hormone screening to maximize the success of in vitro fertilization techniques; and new tests to optimize the care of patients with lung cancer.
After this first session, participants will be able to apply for the “BIM Winners” awards, with the chance to win funding and the hope of taking their innovation to the next level.