Chaire ETI - IAE Paris Sorbonne School

What Chaire ETI - IAE Paris Sorbonne School does

The Chair is governed by IAE Paris Sorbonne Business School and University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, with an international scientific committee spanning Brazil, India, Canada, USA, Australia, Colombia, Kenya, Morocco, Portugal, and Greece, and a notable partnership with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus (Yunus Social Business Center agreement, November 2018). It is headquartered in Paris with a regional hub in Strasbourg and reports approximately 14 staff. It has received the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award (2022) jointly with the City of Paris and was a co-finalist for the 2021-22 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities. The organization has no traditional revenue model, patents, or commercial product line — its outputs are intellectual and policy-oriented.

Name

Chaire ETI - IAE Paris Sorbonne School

Legal name

Chaire Entrepreneuriat Territoire Innovation (ETI)

Website

https://chaire-eti.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chaire ETI is a Paris-based academic research chair at IAE Paris Sorbonne Business School (founded 2018) that develops the 15-minute city concept and proximity-based urban planning frameworks, serving local governments, public institutions, and a defined set of private founding partners through free publications, training programs, and policy advisory work.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Management Research Institutes & Doctoral (PhD/DBA) Programs (EDAHAHAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL), Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Urban territorial innovation
• 15-minute city research
• Academic research chair
• Sustainable urban planning
• Proximity-based development

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Chaire ETI is an academic research chair at IAE Paris Sorbonne Business School dedicated to research-action on urban and territorial innovation, with a particular focus on the 15-minute city concept and sustainable proximities. It produces research publications, organizes training programs and events, and partners with public and private institutions to advance urban transformation.

Product overview

Chaire ETI (Entrepreneuriat Territoire Innovation) is an academic research chair at IAE Paris Sorbonne Business School, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University. Rather than a unified software product, the chair functions as a research and training initiative offering multiple intellectual products and services: Cahiers de la Chaire (research publication series), White Papers on urban planning concepts (including the 15-minute city model and the 'High Quality of Societal Life' methodology), the Sustainable Proximities Methodology document, training programs (MOOCs, University Diplomas, MBA, and Master degrees) in partnership with Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and event series including the monthly Séminaire Nouvelles Proximités and the annual Université d'été 'The Village'. The chair also publishes compilations such as the Recueil Ville du Quart d'Heure and the Cahier Résiliences Territoriales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research-Action Programs on Urban Innovation
• Academic Publications and Research Outputs
• Training Programs and Executive Education
• Conferences and Events on the 15-Minute City

Quantifiable outcome

• 15-minute city concept adopted by City of Paris under Mayor Anne Hidalgo and spread to cities worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core, founding and minor.

• IAE Paris – Sorbonne Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding academic institution hosting the Chaire ETI. IAE Paris confers double competency in management to students and professionals. The Chair is a research-action initiative of IAE Paris – Sorbonne Business School aimed at federating public and private actors around urban and territorial challenges.
• University of Paris 1 Panthéon-SorbonnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding academic partner and degree-granting institution for the Chair's training programs. Hosts the 8th AIRMAP conference on 'Intelligent Territories and Sustainable Public Management' in May 2019.
• Live in a Living City (Think Tank)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational think tank associated with the Chair, founded by Scientific Director Carlos Moreno. Organizes the 'Live in a Living City' international forum.
• EDF (Électricité de France)foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding private partner supporting the Chair's research on urban innovation and energy transition in territories.
• GFI (Groupe GFI)foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding private partner contributing expertise in digital transition and smart city solutions for territorial development.
• IcadefoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding private partner specializing in real estate and territorial development, supporting research on urban innovation ecosystems.
• SNEF GroupfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocio Fundador (Socio-Founder) private partner in energy and digital infrastructure, supporting the Chair's territorial innovation initiatives.
• Crédit AgricolefoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate banking and financial services group partnering with the Chair for territorial and economic development research.
• Nhood (formerly Mercialys)foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate and urban commerce specialist contributing to research on territorial attractiveness and urban retail ecosystems.
• City of PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore institutional partner and first city to adopt the Chair's 15-minute city concept under Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Co-finalist with the Chair for the WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities 2021-22.
• Métropole Nice Côte d'AzurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined the Chair on September 30, 2021 at the Transition Forum in Nice, contributing to urban innovation and proximity-based territorial development.
• Nantes MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding institutional partner contributing to research on metropolitan innovation ecosystems and urban development.
• Dijon MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding institutional partner engaged in smart city and digital transition initiatives.
• Région Grand EstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the Chair for a duration of three years with €150,000 in funding. Launched the Hub Grand Est in Strasbourg on December 5, 2018. Focused on digital transition and smart territory development for mid-sized cities.
• Région OccitaniecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of THE VILLAGE 2021 summer university with La Tribune and Chaire ETI on the theme of 'Nouvelles proximités' (New Proximities) in Frontignan.
• Ville de BethuneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal city partner collaborating on urban innovation and territorial development initiatives.
• UN-HabitatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the international conference 'Towards Sustainable Urban Proximities' (September 4-5, 2025) alongside City of Paris, UCLG, and Chaire ETI. Awarded the Chair and City of Paris the Scroll of Honour Award 2022.
• United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of local governments co-organizing the 'Towards Sustainable Urban Proximities' international conference with the Chair.
• Metropolis (World Association of Major Metropolises)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of major cities supporting the Chair's research on metropolitan innovation and urban development.
• France UrbainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of French metropolitan areas contributing to the Chair's urban innovation research and policy discussions.
• CEPS (Centre d'Étude et de Prospective Stratégique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic studies think tank co-organizing the 'Ville de Demain / Cohésion Sociale' seminar at Palais du Luxembourg with the Chair on January 14, 2019.
• Muhammad Yunus / Yunus CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNobel Peace Prize laureate (2006) and founder of Grameen Bank. Signed agreement on November 20, 2018 to create the 'Yunus Social Business Center – Sorbonne Business School IAE Paris' within the Chair, dedicated to training students and managers in inclusive social business and the 'Triple Zero' goal (zero poverty, zero unemployment, zero carbon).
• EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in THE VILLAGE 2021 summer university alongside Chaire ETI and La Tribune, contributing academic expertise on urban proximity and territorial innovation.
• École Nationale Supérieure d'architecture de Toulouse (ENSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with the Chair for THE VILLAGE 2021 event on 'Nouvelles proximités' in Occitanie.
• HETICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench higher education institution specializing in digital technologies, contributing to academic research ecosystem of the Chair.
• IMODEV (International Market for Opportunities and Development)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organization part of the Chair's academic and research network.
• STRATE École de DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign school contributing to the Chair's research on urban design and territorial innovation.
• École de Design de NantesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign school contributing design thinking expertise to the Chair's urban innovation research.
• Université de NantesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing to the Chair's research network and training offerings.
• OuishareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative economy network contributing to the Chair's research on new economic models and territorial innovation.
• Paris&CominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis innovation and startup agency contributing to territorial innovation ecosystem research.
• Africa Web FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican web festival in Côte d'Ivoire where the Chair participated and presented awards, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa.
• APUR (Atelier Parisien d'Urbanisme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParis urban planning observatory contributing expertise to the Chair's urban research activities.
• Bilbao Urban DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban design initiative contributing to the Chair's research on urban innovation and design.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UN-Habitat: United Nations agency for sustainable urban development; co-organizer with Chaire ETI of the 2025 Sustainable Urban Proximities conference. Directly comparable as a producer of urban policy research, frameworks, and global convening on city quality of life, though at vastly greater scale.
• Urban Institute: U.S.-based research organization studying cities, housing, and economic inclusion. Comparable to Chaire ETI as an academic-adjacent urban research body producing methodologies and frameworks applied by city governments, though focused on U.S. policy.
• Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program: Brookings Institution's research program on cities and metropolitan areas. Comparable to Chaire ETI as a think-tank producer of urban policy research with strong engagement with city and regional governments, though broader in scope.
• C40 Cities: Global network of mayor-led cities focused on climate action and urban sustainability. Comparable to Chaire ETI as a convening and research-oriented urban network engaging directly with city governments on sustainable urban transformation.
• OECD Centre for Urban Policies: OECD's urban policy work produces comparative research on cities and territories globally. Comparable to Chaire ETI as an internationally recognized urban research producer targeting policy-makers and metropolitan governments, though operating at much larger scale and broader scope.
• WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities: World Resources Institute's cities program; co-honoree with Chaire ETI and City of Paris as a WRI Ross Prize finalist. Comparable as a research-and-advocacy organization producing actionable urban sustainability frameworks and engaging with city governments globally.

Direct peers

• Lincoln Institute of Land Policy: Independent research organization focused on land policy, urban planning, and quality of life. Comparable to Chaire ETI in producing frameworks and methodologies for territorial planning, with similar academic and policy-action orientation.
• MIT Senseable City Lab: MIT research laboratory studying cities through data, design, and technology. Comparable to Chaire ETI as an academic-embedded urban research lab producing influential frameworks and methodologies, with similar interdisciplinary approach bridging research and urban practice.
• LSE Cities: London School of Economics' urban research centre producing academic and policy research on cities and urban policy. Closely comparable to Chaire ETI in mission, academic affiliation, research-action methodology, and engagement with European municipalities.
• Centre for Cities (UK): UK-based urban research and policy think tank focused on city economies and productivity. Comparable to Chaire ETI in size, research-action methodology, and engagement with European city governments on urban policy frameworks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Chaire_eti
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX8K2iA7sr06xGRR3nqoFFQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/chaireETI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chaire-eti
• Instagraminstagram.com/chaire_eti

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 ETI - IAE Paris Sorbonne School