Launch of a strategic partnership with Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur to support student entrepreneurship

With the renewal of the multi-year "Esprit d'Entreprendre" plan, the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research has confirmed that student entrepreneurship is a national priority. In this context, the "Pépite Paca-Est" program run by the Centre d'Entrepreneuriat d'Université Côte d'Azur takes on crucial importance.

The Nice Côte d'Azur metropolitan area has always been committed to promoting the creation of innovative businesses. With this in mind, the Metropole intends to reinforce its commitment to Pépite Paca-Est student entrepreneurs, by offering them a dedicated space within the innovation hub.

Creating a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem conducive to innovation 

This partnership reflects the shared desire of both entities to work closely together to create a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem conducive to innovation in the Alpes-Maritimes region. In particular, the agreement provides for student-entrepreneur projects to be actively linked up with a network of sector experts, the organization of events dedicated to entrepreneurship, and the provision of shared workspaces at the Innovation Hub for student start-ups.

Rani DANG, Vice-President in charge of Student Entrepreneurship at the Université Côte d'Azur, and Xavier LATOUR, Vice-President of the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis in charge of training, higher education and research, and Nice City Councillor, both expressed their enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of supporting young entrepreneurs to ensure a flourishing economic future for the region:

"With this partnership, we not only want to send a strong message to the region's young talent: : entrepreneurship is encouraged, supported and recognized as a major pillar of economic and social development. But also to highlight the crucial role played by academic institutions in the training and development of budding entrepreneurs. This is a strategic issue for universities, where the entrepreneurial spirit and the acquisition of associated cross-disciplinary skills are becoming fundamental for a highly valued career orientation." 
Rani DANG, Vice-President of Student Entrepreneurship at Université Côte d'Azur.

"Awarded the "French Tech Capital" label, Nice Côte d'Azur is widely recognized as an attractive and innovative territory where companies, training establishments and research laboratories rub shoulders. Our Innovation Hub, located at the heart of the Nice Méridia urban technology park, is home to startups, competitive clusters, several digital schools and numerous institutional partners. Its aim is to support the growth of our young companies, create new business opportunities and facilitate cooperation between members of the ecosystem. I'm delighted with the agreement we've signed with Université Côte d'Azur, which offers student-entrepreneurs in the "PEPITE" program accommodation in the Innovation Hub, as well as tools and support services. The young entrepreneurs involved in this program will be able to integrate the startup ecosystem more quickly, and thus maximize the success rate of their project." 
Xavier LATOUR, Vice-president of the Nice Côte d'Azur Metropolis in charge of training, higher education and research, Nice City Councillor