Chaire d'Économie urbaine de l'ESSEC

What Chaire d'Économie urbaine de l'ESSEC does

The Chaire d'Économie urbaine de l'ESSEC is an academic research and teaching unit within ESSEC Business School, founded in 1991 in Cergy, Île-de-France, to train ESSEC Grande École Master's students in urban economics and territorial development. Over more than 30 years it has built a portfolio of offerings including a one-year specialization curriculum for Grande École students, the Mastère Spécialisé Management Urbain et Immobilier (MS MUI), the MS MVTI delivered in Morocco with the International University of Rabat, partner-designed courses (Commerce et ville de demain with Nhood|Ceetrus; Énergie et Territoires with energy stakeholders), and short Masterclass corporate training.

Its underlying intellectual property consists of research methodologies rather than commercial technology, notably the Responsabilité Territoriale de l'Entreprise (RTE) framework, the Dynamic of Cities Analysis Model, and an applied research seminar model that pairs student teams with partner organizations on real territorial challenges. Outputs include Les Cahiers de la Chaire research notebooks, the Bibliothèque des Territoires book series directed by Franck Vallérugo at Éditions de l'Aube, the Matinales de l'Habitabilit roundtable series, and recurring press coverage in Le Monde, Les Echos, La Tribune, and sector media.

The unit is not a separately incorporated entity and generates revenue through three streams: commissioned consulting and applied research missions for public authorities and private organizations, multi-year partnership contributions from corporate and institutional sponsors, and tuition-bearing specialized master's programs delivered through ESSEC. Two corporately-funded associated chairs anchor the model — the ESSEC-Nhood|Ceetrus chair on commercial real estate and urban planning (since 2018) and the ESSEC-EDF chair on Territorial Habitability (since 2023) — alongside a broader partner network spanning Banque des Territoires, Paris La Défense, VINCI/Leonard, Arcadis, ANRU, and several départements and intercommunalities. Geographic scope extends from Île-de-France through national France to Francophone Africa (Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal).

Name

Chaire d'Économie urbaine de l'ESSEC

Legal name

ESSEC Business School (École Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales)

Website

https://chaire-economie-urbaine.essec.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Chaire d'Économie urbaine de l'ESSEC is an academic research and teaching unit within ESSEC Business School that delivers urban economics and territorial development programs to Grande École students, professionals, and public/private partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Economics Education and Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Agriculture, Environmental & Earth Sciences (EDAGABAL)

Keywords

• Urban economics research
• Territorial development consulting
• Applied urban research
• Real estate education programs
• Territorial attractiveness studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Cergy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Research Services: The Chaire conducts paid consulting missions and commissioned research studies for public and private organizations, providing expertise in urban economics, territorial marketing, and development strategies.
2. Partnership Contributions: Corporate and institutional partners (EDF, Nhood/Ceetrus, and others) contribute funding and resources in exchange for research collaboration, student talent access, and knowledge dissemination.
3. Specialized Master's Programs: The Chaire supports delivery of specialized master's programs (MS MUI, MS MVTI) which contribute to ESSEC's educational revenue through tuition.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Chaire d'Économie urbaine de l'ESSEC is an academic research and teaching unit within ESSEC Business School that delivers specialization curricula (Cursus d'enseignement, MS MUI, MS MVTI) for master's students, conducts theoretical and applied research on urban economics and territorial development, publishes research outputs (Les Cahiers de la Chaire, Éditions de l'Aube), and provides paid consulting missions and commissioned research studies to public authorities and private organizations.

Product overview

The Chaire d'Économie urbaine de l'ESSEC is an academic research and teaching unit at ESSEC Business School, not a commercial technology product company. Its offerings consist of educational programs (the core Chaire specialization curriculum, MS MUI, and MS MVTI specialized master's programs), professional development (Masterclass Nhood, Cours Commerce et ville de demain, Cours Énergie et Territoires), and applied research services (seminars, consulting missions, and publications including Les Cahiers de la Chaire and the Éditions de l'Aube series). The Chair also organizes public events such as Les Matinales de l'Habitabilité. These offerings serve students, partner organizations, and public/private sector professionals interested in urban economics and territorial development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chaire associée ESSEC – EDF Habitabilité des Territoires: An associated research and teaching chair focused on the socio-economic and environmental resilience of territories in the context of climate change, established in partnership with EDF in 2023.
• Chaire associée ESSEC – Nhood | Ceetrus en urbanisme et immobilier commercial

Products and services

• Cursus d'enseignement de la Chaire d'Économie urbaine
• Mastère Spécialisé Management Urbain et Immobilier (MS MUI)
• Mastère Spécialisé Management des Villes, des Territoires et de l'Immobilier (MS MVTI)
• Missions de conseil
• Recherche appliquée - Séminaires d'application
• Éditions de l'Aube - Série 'Villes et territoires'
• Les Cahiers de la Chaire
• Les Matinales de l'Habitabilité

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of urban development trajectories explained by standard socio-economic variables, with 30% attributed to territorial governance factors identified through the Chaire's RTE research framework

Named customers15 records

Segments5 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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• EDFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023EDF partnered with ESSEC in 2023 to create the ESSEC-EDF Chaire on Territorial Habitability. The partnership focuses on climate change adaptation research, examining the socio-economic resilience of territories where EDF operates nuclear facilities. Key activities include applied research seminars, the 'Matinales de l'Habitabilité' conference series, and student projects.
• NhoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Nhood, a mixed real estate services operator with 1000+ experts in 12 countries, partnered with ESSEC in 2018 to create the ESSEC-Nhood Chair in Urban Planning and Commercial Real Estate. The partnership examines how commerce shapes urban development, particularly in light of environmental and digital transitions.
• CeetruscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Ceetrus, owner of 300 shopping centers across 10 European countries with €7B+ in real estate assets, partnered with ESSEC in 2018 on the Chair in Urban Planning and Commercial Real Estate. Focuses on commercial real estate transformation and sustainable urban development.
• SCETkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCET (Société d'Équipement et d'Aménagement) collaborates with the Chaire on studies related to public development companies' economic models under Zero Net Land Take (ZAN) constraints and urban densification strategies.
• Banque des TerritoireskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Banque des Territoires (Caisse des Dépôts group) partners on multiple applied research projects including climate adaptation investment strategies, mobility policies, and electric vehicle infrastructure studies.
• Leonard (VINCI)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeonard, VINCI's urban foresight and incubation think tank, partners with the Chaire on territorial governance and ecological transition research. The partnership has produced joint studies on governance challenges in environmental transitions.
• ArcadiskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerArcadis collaborates with the Chaire on research related to carbon performance contracts for real estate transformation and urban development sustainability.
• Paris La DéfensekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis La Défense partners with the Chaire on studies examining economic models for tower transformation and post-carbon business district strategies.
• Communauté d'agglomération du CotentinkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cotentin Agglomeration Community commissioned research on urban density and territorial attractiveness, as well as coastal erosion adaptation strategies, conducted by the Chaire.
• Communauté de communes MACSkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaremne Adour Côte-Sud intermunicipal community partners on studies examining Zero Net Land Take implementation and economic zone densification potential.
• ANRUkeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe National Agency for Urban Renewal (ANRU) collaborated on creating and delivering continuing education programs for urban renewal operation managers.
• Département du Val d'OisekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Val d'Oise Department partners on multiple studies including Line 19 transportation infrastructure impact, territorial attractiveness, and economic development strategies.
• Éditions de l'AubekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing publishing partnership producing the 'Bibliothèque des Territoires' collection and 'Villes et Territoires' book series for knowledge diffusion.
• Fédération NorlinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorlink Federation representing logistics and multimodal stakeholders in Hauts-de-France partnered on digital development strategy research for ports and logistics.
• Calia ConseilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare consulting firm partnered on study examining local public health policies and municipal positioning strategies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CEREMA: French public agency providing expertise, applied research, and engineering studies on territorial development, mobility, environment, and infrastructure. Comparable as a publicly funded applied research and consulting body serving French local authorities on many of the same themes (ZAN, mobility, climate adaptation).
• Institut Paris Région: Urban planning agency for the Île-de-France region producing studies, data, and consulting on metropolitan development, mobility, and land use. Overlaps with the Chaire on territorial economic analysis and applied research for public decision-makers.
• Urban Land Institute (ULI) Europe: Global nonprofit research and education organization dedicated to responsible land use and real estate. Comparable in its practitioner-focused research, advisory programs, conferences, and publications serving real-estate and urban development professionals.

Regional players

• France Urbaine: Association of French large cities and metropolises representing urban authorities vis-à-vis national policymakers. Comparable as a French-only institutional actor convening public territorial stakeholders, producing policy analysis, and partnering with academic institutions on urban issues.

Emerging players

• HEC Paris Sustainability and Society Chair: Competitor business school's research chair activity focused on sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. Comparable as another grande école-based research chair combining teaching, publications, and corporate partnerships, though with a different thematic emphasis.

Direct peers

• UMR LAVUE: CNRS multi-institutional research laboratory on cities, urbanism, and territories, combining sociology, geography, and political science. Comparable academic research output grounded in social sciences, with publication, doctoral training, and field-study activities that parallel the Chaire's research activities.
• Sciences Po École Urbaine: Sciences Po's Urban School trains students and conducts research on urban policy, planning, and inequalities in France and internationally. Directly comparable as a French grande école-based urban research and teaching unit with applied consultancy and policy engagement.
• LSE Cities: Research center at the London School of Economics producing academic and applied research on cities, urbanization, and urban governance. Mirrors ESSEC's Chaire in combining rigorous social-science research with policy briefs, executive education, and city partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chaire-economie-urbaine-essec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Chaire d'Économie urbaine de l'ESSEC