Entreprenariales 2026: Université Côte d'Azur Demonstrates the Power of Collaboration in Serving the Region
- Knowledge transfer - Industry
- Education
- Innovation
- Partnerships
on the June 4, 2026
Under the theme of “collaboration,” this year’s Entreprenariales 2026 provided the University with an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to working alongside businesses, local communities, and socio-economic partners to jointly build the skills, innovations, and projects of tomorrow.
Throughout the day, teams from the University and its Foundation organized several key events showcasing the diversity of their initiatives in support of the local community: education, innovation, entrepreneurship, collaborative research, and talent development.
A university with impact, open to society
Among the highlights of this year’s event, Jeanick Brisswalter , President of Université Côte d’Azur, gave an interview to Le Figaro , conducted by business journalist Julien Gagliardi.
On this occasion, he reiterated the university’s ambition to be an impactful, committed institution open to society. He particularly highlighted an educational program designed to meet the challenges of tomorrow, as well as a commitment to research excellence grounded in interdisciplinarity and focused on major contemporary issues.
The interview also highlighted the institution’s commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship, through fostering a spirit of initiative and supporting the creation of innovative companies. The president also emphasized the University’s strong international reach, driven by numerous strategic initiatives.
This interview also served as an opportunity to highlight Le Cercle , a new initiative led by the Université Côte d'Azur Foundation. A true alliance between the University, businesses, and the region, this “Think and Do Tank” aims to foster concrete projects and promote collective intelligence in support of the development and appeal of the Côte d'Azur.
A new program to support the transition to sustainable tourism
As part of the workshop “One Day I Will Pass the Torch,” organized by the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Area, the University presented its new University Diploma in Sustainable Tourism, Hospitality, and Restaurant Entrepreneurship .
This continuing education program was designed to address the challenges of business succession, creation, and development in the tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors. It is aimed at project leaders, business buyers, professionals seeking to develop an intrapreneurial venture, and individuals undergoing career transitions.
Through this new program, Université Côte d'Azur reaffirms its commitment to supporting the region’s economic transformation and contributing to the development of skills tailored to the needs of businesses.
Research, Innovation, and Artificial Intelligence: Concrete Collaborations with Industry
With a presence at the AI & Digital Innovation Village as well as at the AI Cluster booth, the University also highlighted its innovation ecosystem through Techpool demonstrations and the presentation of several collaborative projects involving researchers and industry partners.
These demonstrations allowed visitors to discover concrete examples of knowledge transfer, technological innovation, and research partnerships addressing business challenges. They illustrate the driving role played by Université Côte d'Azur in developing the technologies of tomorrow and in strengthening the ties between academic research and the business world.
Supporting talent and accelerating innovation
Throughout the day, visitors also had the opportunity to speak with university teams about work-study programs and professional development initiatives within the Employment & Training Village.
The Université Côte d'Azur Foundation was also present at the Regional Attractiveness Village to present its initiatives promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and closer ties between the academic world and economic stakeholders.
Further insights in L'Optimiste Collector
Les Entreprenariales 2026 can also be found in the digital edition of L'Optimiste Collector from June 2026. This issue notably features an interview with Ali Douai, Vice President in charge of training and educational innovation; a conversation with Mathieu Garotta, President of the Université Côte d’Azur Foundation, focused on the launch of Le Cercle; and a special report on 3IA Côte d'Azur with Diana Sebbar, 3IA Director.
“The Power of the Collective”: A Shared Message to Conclude the Entreprenariales
The highlight of this edition, the closing roundtable on “The Power of the Collective,” brought together Jeanick Brisswalter and Christian Califano , a former French international rugby player, for a discussion moderated by Nicolas Galup, editor-in-chief of Nice-Matin.Through their contrasting perspectives on sports, higher education, and entrepreneurship, the speakers highlighted the shared values that underpin collective success : team spirit, leadership, setting an example, trust, and the ability to move forward together in the face of challenges.
This message resonates particularly well with the ambitions of Université Côte d'Azur, which places cooperation among local stakeholders at the heart of its development strategy.
