"PUI... an invisible force that supports all projects".
Philippe Combette is vice-president of the University of Montpellier, in charge of partnerships and innovation, and oversees the PUI (Pôle universitaire de l'innovation). After two years of experimentation and one year of accreditation, he gives a very convincing assessment...

A pilot site since 2021, the University of Montpellier was awarded the Pôle Universitaire d'Innovation label in September 2023. Why was it so obvious for the University to embark on this adventure?
It all started with the I-site label of excellence, whose acronym already referred to the terms "innovation", "territories", "economy"... In this respect, the first actions were carried out as early as 2017. In 2021, it was the Ministry of Higher Education and Research that approached us prior to the PUI experiment, because it considered that the Montpellier area already had a number of qualities. Both in terms of our intensive, high-performance research university, but also in terms of the local socio-economic ecosystem. Business start-ups are one of the strengths of this city, which also boasts a BIC (Business Innovation Center) recognized as one of the best in the world... It was therefore entirely appropriate for us to submit an application for the PUI pilot phase...
In a few words, how would you sum up PUI's role and missions?
We didn't want the PUI to be a kind of totem through which all initiatives had to pass... but rather an invisible force that supports all projects. The PUI is a collective that works to mesh a clearly identified territory, in this case the metropolis and its catchment area. The aim is to ensure that all the players involved in innovation know each other, work together, and ultimately create jobs and research. The additional mission of this cluster is also to enable the various research laboratories - which often have a national vision of innovation - to promote research on the local sites where they are represented. Ultimately, the PUI aims to boost the competitiveness of companies and reindustrialize the region.
The academic and business worlds encountered a number of difficulties before managing to work together. Overall, how has PUI succeeded in creating a new dynamic?
Every year, we are challenged by indicators that let us know whether our actions are bearing fruit. In 2023-2024 alone, we signed over 300 research contracts with companies, worth 15 million euros, whereas our target for 2025 was 393. We registered 175 invention declarations, against a target of 210 by 2025. We have created 7 spin-offs and 25 startups, whereas the target is to create 8 and 25 by 2025... In short, we have already achieved around 75% of our objectives.
What does this mean in terms of resources and budget?
Today, between the pilot phase and the consolidated phase, we have an initial budget of 9 million euros, of which we have used around a third. This enables us to finance a collective - which the local authorities have become aware of and have also seized upon - which is organizing itself to be as effective as possible.
Several tools have been put in place to enhance the value of research projects. In a few words, can you tell us about the most effective tools?
We have three main tools. Firstly, "Companies and campus", which we introduced in 2018. This scheme consists of bringing companies to our campuses to enable them to benefit from the equipment and expertise of our scientists, and also to bring us their know-how. We award grants of between €40,000 and €50,000 per project. A total of 1.8 million euros has been invested since 2018, including 500,000 in 2023, for around forty projects.
There's also the Montpellier Innovation Booster (BIM) as well?
Yes, the BIM has been running four sessions a year since 2020 to support and coach project leaders towards realization. In total, we offer 20 to 30,000 euros per project, and around 15 coaches per BIM, drawn from the business world, Montpellier's BIC, the Ad'Occ regional agency and Satt AxLR... Here again, our strength lies in having a collective that goes beyond the academic world. Finally, we have the "Pre-incubate to co-incubate" scheme. A sort of launch pad designed to detect and support business start-ups, it brings together several academic incubators (such as Initium and AgroVallée) and public incubators (such as Montpellier's BIC). In all, we have supported the creation of 23 start-ups.
You've got a lot of local partners behind you, both institutional and private. In your opinion, what are the remaining obstacles to be overcome?
All in all, it's been a bit of a honeymoon... But at some point, to move on to the next stage, we have to succeed in raising funds, and that's a bit more complicated. We need to get investors to the table so that they can make their decisions calmly and with full knowledge of the facts.
In 2023, 12 deeptech startups were created within the PUI. And since 2021, these innovative young companies made in Montpellier have raised over 360 million euros. Which projects have impressed you the most?
I'm thinking of two very fine examples. The creation of the Terratis company, which accompanied us to the ANR (Agence Nationale pour la Recherche). Clélia Oliva had imagined a technique for eradicating the tiger mosquito by irradiation, and she thought: why not set up a company? She went to see the head of the Initium incubator, submitted her idea and took part in the "Pre-incubation for co-incubation" program. She also took part in the BIM and benefited from the support of Satt AxLR, BIC and BPI France... And Terratis was born. Today, this remarkable technology has already been deployed in certain areas of the Montpellier metropolis.
This year, our doctoral student Sarah Colombani also demonstrated a remarkable career path. A BIM prizewinner, she has set up her own company, OcciCal Therapeutics, to develop a drug to treat respiratory dysfunction. Sarah is a genius, with an incredible energy. She was supported by BPI France and BIC. She was awarded the Innovation Prize last July. And she's a perfect example of what we can do within the PUI framework.
Do you plan to target or encourage particular issues in the years ahead?
We're a collective, and we've defined thematic roadmaps collectively. Our rule is that if more than two founding members think it's a good idea, we have to move in that direction. So together, we've decided to take a closer look at water issues, digital health, oncology, the energy transition... We're also planning to create a roadmap around vines and wine.
Already in 2019, the University of Montpellier was ranked by Reuters as one of France's most innovative universities (2nd in France and 17th in Europe). What are your ambitions today?
This year, we're going to create a status for innovative student entrepreneurs. We decided that we needed to open up to the student pool, and give them access to all the initiatives available to researchers under the PUI. Today, 90% of innovation is carried out by 10 to 12% of the academic world, which means that many researchers are not on the path to innovation for a variety of reasons...
And on a European scale?
In the coming months, we will also be increasing our openness to Europe through the EIC (or European Innovation Council), via several calls for projects and through the creation of alliances. We'd also like to attract more European funding for research and innovation. More broadly, within the PUI, our prospecting units are constantly questioning the way we coordinate ourselves. This is what enables us to do better and better, and to gain in technology transfer, research, collaboration, etc. We have only one objective: to increase our capacity to innovate.
Key figures
- 360 partnership contracts per year ;
- 175 invention declarations per year ;
- 33 operating licenses ;
- 12 Deeptech startups created in 2023 ;
- 360 million euros raised since 2021;
- 62 start-up and spin-off projects supported ;
- 60 companies hosted on campus.