Foundations
As key drivers of the University’s initiatives, the foundations address the needs of businesses and industry. They provide students and doctoral candidates with new opportunities to pursue their career goals.
University of Montpellier Foundation
The University of Montpellier Foundation reflects the University of Montpellier’s commitment to engaging with the business community. To foster connections between the professional and academic worlds, it implements initiatives supported by donations from its public and private partners, aimed primarily at students and researchers.
Many of the chairs established through the Foundation have become hubs for collaboration and knowledge-sharing between researchers and businesses in key sectors of our region: the wine industry, healthcare, crafts, and sports. Through their research activities and the conferences they organize, these chairs help ensure that business challenges are addressed within the University. They also contribute to disseminating the University’s research throughout the local business community.
Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among students, supporting research, listening to the needs of businesses, and meeting society’s expectations—these are the main objectives of the University of Montpellier Foundation.
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 leaders. As the driving force behind the projects of the University Space Center (CSU), it serves as a bridge between the space industry—which is seeking skilled professionals—and students trained in cutting-edge technologies.
The Van Allen Foundation supports the end-to-end development of nanosatellites by students at CSU. This hands-on project serves as a real career springboard, enabling students to develop the skills sought by companies in the space and high-tech sectors.
By developing France’s first CSU, the Van Allen Foundation and the University of Montpellier are the first in France to invest in the promising field of academic nanosatellites. The Van Allen Foundation is supported by the French Space Agency (CNES) and the European Space Agency (ESA), and backed by leading figures in the field.
The establishment of companies for the restoration of the Jardin des Plantes in Montpellier
Aware of its historical identity and committed to preserving what makes it strong, the University of Montpellier, under the leadership of its president, Philippe Augé, has decided to reach out to businesses to help it preserve this priceless heritage and successfully complete the second phase of renovation work.
Twenty-three companies immediately signed on to the project. The foundation will fund a large portion of the restoration of the Orangerie and its surroundings.
How the Foundation Works
The establishment of a foundation dedicated to the restoration of the Jardin des Plantes in Montpellier was approved by the Hérault Prefecture on September 21, 2016. Its objective:
- promote the Jardin des Plantes
- promote this historic site to the public
- organize or participate in scientific, cultural, or artistic events related to the site and, more broadly, to the University of Montpellier.
Upcoming projects
The Orangerie renovation project involves restoring the building to its original function from the early 19th century (an unheated glass structure designed to keep plants in containers and pots safe from freezing during the winter months), as well as redeveloping the site of the former Planchon greenhouses, including the relocation of Chapel No. 5.
The project is scheduled to be carried out in two phases:
- A first phase covering the area around the Orangerie
- A second phase focused on the Orangerie itself
