Foundations

Supporting the University's key projects, the foundations meet the needs of business and industry. They give students and doctoral students new opportunities to realize their professional projects.

Montpellier University Foundation

The University of Montpellier Foundation affirms the University's commitment to opening up to the business world. To forge links between the worlds of business and academia, it implements initiatives supported by the patronage of its public and private partners, aimed in particular at students and researchers.

Many of the Chairs created within the framework of the Foundation have become spaces for collaboration and sharing between researchers and companies in some of our region's flagship sectors: wine, health, crafts and sport. Through their research activities and the symposia they organize, these Chairs help to ensure that the University takes account of business issues. They also help to disseminate UM's work within the local economic fabric.

Developing an entrepreneurial spirit among students, supporting research, listening to the needs of business and meeting the expectations of society: these are the key objectives of the Fondation Université de Montpellier.

Van Allen Foundation

The Van Allen Foundation is entirely dedicated to space, and in particular to nanosatellites, a field in which it supports the training of tomorrow's managers. As project leader for the Centre Spatial Universitaire (CSU), it acts as a link between the space industry, in search of operational employees, and students trained in cutting-edge technologies.

The Van Allen Foundation supports the development of nanosatellites from A to Z by students at CSU. A concrete project and a real professional springboard that enables them to develop skills that meet the expectations of companies in the space and high-tech sectors.

By developing the 1st French CSU, the Van Allen Foundation and the University of Montpellier are the first in France to invest in the promising sector of university nanosatellites. The Van Allen Foundation is backed by the French Space Agency (CNES) and the European Space Agency (ESA), and supported by leading figures in the field.

The corporate foundation for the rehabilitation of Montpellier's Jardin des plantes

Aware of its historical identity and keen to protect what makes it strong, the University of Montpellier, under the aegis of its president Philippe Augé, has decided to call on companies to help it preserve this priceless heritage and complete the 2nd phase of renovation work.

23 companies immediately signed up to the project. The foundation will finance a large part of the restoration of the Orangerie and its surroundings.

How the Foundation works

The corporate foundation for the rehabilitation of Montpellier's Jardin des Plantes obtained approval from the Hérault Prefecture on September 21, 2016. Its objective:

  • enhancing the Jardin des Plantes
  • promote this historic site to the public
  • organize or take part in scientific, cultural or artistic events linked to the site and, more broadly, to the University of Montpellier.

Upcoming projects

The Orangerie rehabilitation project involves refurbishing the building in line with its use since the early 19th century (an unheated glass shelter to keep plants in tubs and pots frost-free during the off-season), as well as developing the site of the former Planchon greenhouses, including the relocation of chapel no. 5.

The project will be carried out in 2 phases:

  • The first stage concerns the area around the Orangerie
  • A second tranche of work on the Orangery itself

Emblematic projects See more