Society for Studies and Care for Paralyzed and Polymalformed Children

What Society for Studies and Care for Paralyzed and Polymalformed Children does

SESEP (Société d'Études et de Soins pour les Enfants Paralysés et Polymalformés) is a French non-profit association founded in 1947 by Professor Robert Debré, recognized as an "Association reconnue d'Utilité Publique" (public utility association). The organization focuses on motor rehabilitation of young children with cerebral palsy and motor disabilities. Its activities are organized into two program areas: (1) "Formation Solidaire," an international training program launched in 2013 that deploys volunteer clinicians (neuropediatricians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, orthotists) on one-to-two-week missions, one-to-two times per year, to six partner countries — Burundi, Benin, Congo (Brazzaville), Guinea, Mauritania, and Vietnam — to transfer motor-rehabilitation knowledge to local professionals, community workers, and families; and (2) "Soutien à la Recherche Appliquée," an annual research call-for-projects that funds two €10,000 grants to French healthcare institutions (CHU, SESSAD, CMRRF, Hospices Civils de Lyon) for translational research in child motor rehabilitation, executed in partnership with the Fondation Ellen Poidatz.

SESEP's technical contribution lies in clinical motor assessment tools, including the UMOVE (Unité de Bilan de Motricité par Vidéographie de l'Enfant) video-based motor assessment system, the SIM-PC2 predictive gait simulation tool developed with UNAM, and support for gait analysis using GaitRite (spatiotemporal parameters), Cometa EMG, and the Ker-EGI EMG-based gait index. In 2012, SESEP divested management of its care centers and research laboratory to the Fondation Ellen Poidatz and Hôpital André Mignot, pivoting to a coordination and funding role.

SESEP is funded through membership fees (€20 standard, €50 supporting, €100+ benefactor), tax-deductible individual and corporate donations (processed via PayPal, HelloAsso, Gandee, and QR codes), corporate patronage (Air France Foundation, Orthotech, Proteor, Eqwal Group Foundation, Fondation Gratitude, Note et Bien, Hauts-de-Seine Department, La Guilde), and legacies and bequests. Donations qualify for 66% tax deduction for individuals (capped at 20% of taxable income) and 60% for companies (capped at 5% of turnover). The association has 11–50 employees, is headquartered in Antony (Hauts-de-Seine, France), and is governed by a Conseil d'Administration chaired by Dr. Jeanne-Charlotte Carlier. The organization maintains a tripartite expert selection committee for its research call and is a founding member of the Fondation Motrice.

Name

Society for Studies and Care for Paralyzed and Polymalformed Children

Legal name

Société d'études et de soins pour les enfants paralysés et polymalformés

Website

https://sesep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SESEP is a French non-profit public-utility association, founded in 1947, that runs international training missions for pediatric motor-rehabilitation clinicians in six emerging countries and funds applied research on cerebral palsy in French healthcare institutions, supported by donations and corporate patronage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Antony

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: SESEP collects annual membership fees from its members. Standard membership is €20 per year, supporting membership is €50 per year, and patron member is €100 or more per year. These fees constitute a recurring revenue stream from the association's volunteer and supporter base.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: SESEP receives financial donations from individuals, processed through PayPal, HelloAsso, and QR-code-based campaigns. Donations are tax-deductible at 66% for individuals (capped at 20% of taxable income) and 60% for companies (capped at 5% of turnover). This is the primary revenue stream.
3. Legacies and Bequests: SESEP receives legacies and bequests from donors who include the association in their estate planning. This represents a non-recurring but significant revenue source.
4. Corporate Patronage and Sponsorship: SESEP generates revenue through corporate patronage programs, seeking funding from companies for its international training missions and applied research projects. Corporate sponsors include Air France Foundation, Orthotech, Proteor, Eqwal Group Foundation, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SESEP is a non-profit association that delivers two core programs: (1) Formation Solidaire — international training missions deploying volunteer physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and orthotists to emerging countries (Burundi, Benin, Congo, Guinea, Mauritania, Vietnam) to transfer motor rehabilitation expertise for children with cerebral palsy; and (2) Soutien à la Recherche Appliquée — an applied research funding program that awards grants annually through competitive calls for projects to French healthcare institutions developing innovative rehabilitation solutions.

Product overview

SESEP is a charitable association recognized as a public utility, founded in 1947 by Professor Robert Debré. The organization offers two main program areas: (1) Formation Solidaire – international training missions transferring motor rehabilitation knowledge to healthcare professionals in emerging countries in Africa and Asia; and (2) Soutien à la Recherche Appliquée – an applied research support program that funds innovative rehabilitation projects for children with cerebral palsy through annual calls for projects and partnerships with research foundations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formation Solidaire (International Training Missions) International humanitarian training program that deploys volunteer medical professionals (physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, orthotists) on one-to-two-week missions to emerging countries (Burundi, Benin, Congo, Guinea, Mauritania, Vietnam), providing both theoretical and practical motor rehabilitation training to local medical, paramedical, educational staff, community workers, and families of children with cerebral palsy.
• Soutien à la Recherche Appliquée (Applied Research Funding Program) Annual competitive call for projects (Appel à Projets) that funds two innovative applied research projects in pediatric motor rehabilitation at €10,000 each per year. A tripartite expert committee evaluates submissions; recipients include French healthcare institutions such as CHU St Etienne, Hospices Civils de Lyon, SESSAD APF, CMRRF Kerpape, and Fondation ILDYS.

Quantifiable outcome

• International training missions conducted in 6 countries (Burundi, Benin, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea, Mauritania, Vietnam) with local correspondents and sustained multi-year engagement.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fondation Ellen Poidatz – Pôle Recherche & InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSESEP's primary research partner. The two organizations collaborate on an annual call for projects for applied research transfer in motor rehabilitation. Joint projects include: creation of a Clinical Research Assistant position (2017), development and installation of UMOVE video-based motor assessment system at CRMTP Antony (2015–2016), SIM-PC2 predictive gait simulation project, and UNAM development with doctoral co-funding on child gait optimization.
• Fondation MotricecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSESEP is a founding member of the Fondation Motrice, a major foundation dedicated to cerebral palsy. Joint research projects supported include: 'Impact of cerebral palsy on body appropriation' (2017, Newman & Gerber), 'Impact of intensive motor learning on cognitive control in children with cerebral palsy' (2016, Bleyenheuft), and Robigame-Kids (2015, Lejeune) on intelligent serious games for upper limb rehabilitation.
• GandeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGandee is SESEP's partner for online solidarity fundraisers, enabling supporters to create fundraisers for private events, corporate events, payroll giving, and live-streamed campaigns. Gandee serves as SESEP's 'Impact Manager' for corporate social responsibility programs.
• HelloAssominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHelloAsso provides the payment infrastructure for SESEP's online donations, offering a secure platform for card payments with automatic tax receipt generation.
• APHP – Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPHP is listed as a French partner of SESEP. SESEP's history is closely linked to APHP institutions including Hôpital Raymond Poincaré (Garches), Hôpital Armand Trousseau (Paris), and Hôpital Bicêtre, where many of SESEP's volunteer professionals practice.
• Hôpital Raymond Poincaré (APHP), GarchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeuropediatric department at Hôpital Raymond Poincaré is a key institutional partner. Several SESEP board members and volunteer trainers are affiliated with this hospital, including Dr. Sara Neumane (neuropediatrician and researcher) and Julie Barradas (physiotherapist).
• Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant – Hospices Civils de LyoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerL'Escale, the pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation service at Hospices Civils de Lyon, is a key research partner. Dr. Carole Vuillerot (board member) leads the service, and the hospital has been a recipient of SESEP research funding (TIPS-PC project).
• CHU de RennescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHU de Rennes has received SESEP research funding for the MyoHero Kid project (2023) on serious games for motor rehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy.
• CHU St EtiennecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHU St Etienne, through its Laboratory of Inter-University Biology of Motricity, received SESEP's 2025 AAP award for a project on muscle strength measurement validity in children with cerebral palsy.
• CMRRF de KerpapecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMRRF de Kerpape is a key rehabilitation research partner. It received SESEP's 2024 AAP award for the Ker-EGI-Kids gait analysis reference database project.
• SESSAD APF France HandicapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSESSAD APF France handicap 14 received SESEP's 2022 AAP funding for implementing intensive therapies recommended by HAS for cerebral palsy in a home-based support setting. Multiple SESEP board members are affiliated with APF.
• APEFSante (Burundi)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPEFE Santé works with SESEP in Burundi, supporting the opening of a physiotherapy school at the National Institute of Public Health in Bujumbura as part of SESEP's international training missions.
• Actions AHA (Handicap Afrique)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActions AHA (Handicap Afrique) is an international partner of SESEP, collaborating on training and support activities for children with motor disabilities in Africa.
• Institut National de Santé Publique du Burundi (INSP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINSP Burundi is an international partner of SESEP, hosting training missions and supporting the establishment of rehabilitation training programs in Burundi.
• Hôpital Nhi Dong 2 (Vietnam)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNhi Dong 2 Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City is SESEP's partner in Vietnam for international training missions in child motor rehabilitation.
• Fondation Paralysie CérébralecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFondation Paralysie Cérébrale is listed as a French partner. SESEP participates in financing research projects within the foundation, contributing to its mission of advancing cerebral palsy care.
• ANECAMSPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerANECAMSP (Association Nationale des CAMSP) is a French partner of SESEP. Michèle Baron, Director of CAMSP Chatillon-Boulogne-Chatenay-Malabry and President of ANECAMSP, serves on SESEP's selection committee.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Fondation Motrice: French research foundation dedicated to cerebral palsy — SESEP is a founding member and joint research partner on multiple CP projects (Robigame-Kids, intensive motor learning). Same beneficiary population (children with CP) and overlapping research-funding mission.
• Fondation Ellen Poidatz: French rehabilitation foundation that absorbed SESEP's care centers in 2012 and remains SESEP's primary research co-development partner (UMOVE, SIM-PC2). Closest organizational peer given shared mission in pediatric motor rehabilitation and joint research agenda.
• APF France Handicap: France's largest disability NGO, with multiple board members affiliated and a service arm (SESSAD APF) that has received SESEP research funding. Direct peer in serving children with motor disabilities and families, though APF operates at national scale with paid services.
• Fondation Paralysie Cérébrale: French foundation exclusively focused on cerebral palsy research and care. Listed as a core SESEP partner; SESEP participates in financing research projects within the foundation. Direct overlap in CP research funding and family-support services.
• Institut Motricité Cérébrale: French specialized institute for cerebral palsy — a former Director sits on SESEP's project-selection committee. Direct peer focused on CP training, research dissemination, and professional education (publishing the journal 'Motricité Cérébrale').

Broad incumbents

• Croix-Rouge française: France's Red Cross society, employing occupational therapists and other rehab professionals. A SESEP board member (Rachel Bard-Pondarre) works at Centre des Massues – Croix-Rouge française. Comparable non-medical social services and rehabilitation focus at much larger national scale.
• AFM-Téléthon: Major French non-profit funding neuromuscular disease research, with a board member of SESEP's project-selection committee serving as President of AFM-Téléthon's scientific council. Comparable French health-research non-profit model but with vastly larger fundraising (telethon-driven) and broader disease focus.
• Humanity & Inclusion (Handicap International): Large international NGO providing disability-inclusive humanitarian aid across 60+ countries. Overlaps with SESEP on international disability-focused missions and family/community training, but operates at far greater scale across many disability categories beyond CP.
• La Chaîne de l'Espoir: International pediatric medical humanitarian NGO; SESEP's Vice-President is currently a 'Chargée de mission' there. Overlaps on international capacity-building for pediatric care in emerging countries, but La Chaîne de l'Espoir spans surgery, cardiology, and broader pediatric specialties.

Others

• La Guilde: French international solidarity and development NGO listed as a corporate patron of SESEP. Adjacent as a co-funding/partner organization supporting international humanitarian missions, but not focused specifically on disability or rehabilitation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SESEP-ij4nd
• Facebookfacebook.com/SESEP-109643301734266
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9-d%E2%80%99etudes-et-de-soins-pour-les-enfants-paralys%C3%A9s-et-polymalform%C3%A9s
• Instagraminstagram.com/sesep.france
• Xx.com/sesep_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Society for Studies and Care for Paralyzed and Polymalformed Children