InCIAM - Institut Créativité et Innovations Aix-Marseille

What InCIAM - Institut Créativité et Innovations Aix-Marseille does

InCIAM (Institut Créativité et Innovations Aix-Marseille) is an interdisciplinary research institute embedded within Aix-Marseille Université, coordinated by the Amidex Foundation and launched in January 2020. It operates as a scientific network connecting approximately 18 research units, 170 teacher-researchers and researchers, 4 partner faculties (ALLSH, FEG, INSPÉ, IMPGT), 7 doctoral schools, and roughly 700 master's and doctoral students across the Aix-Marseille site. The institute's research spans three axes: creative and innovation processes, development of innovations in health, education, and labor, and dialogue with the socio-economic world around digital and societal evolutions. Methodologies include psychology, ergonomics, neuroscience, design thinking, and arts-based approaches such as A/R/Tography developed with the University of British Columbia's Research-based Theatre Lab.

Its core service offerings are the DESU Créativité et Innovation postgraduate diploma (priced at €478 for initial training and €2,665 for continuing training in 2025-2026), the CréaLab centre of expertise providing consultancy to socio-economic partners, recurrent research funding through calls for projects (15 since 2020 supporting 50+ winners), and the 6-Axis Dynamic Physical Interaction Simulator platform used for human-factors research. Distribution runs exclusively through academic and institutional channels — Aix-Marseille Université infrastructure, international conferences (ISSCI, World Creativity Day, HUMACO seminars), and partnerships with national companies (Airbus, Thales, Orange), defense research centers (CESPA, CREA), and local incubators. The institute is a publicly funded government state entity rather than a commercial operation, generating negligible direct revenue beyond DESU tuition and project-based CréaLab engagements.

Name

InCIAM - Institut Créativité et Innovations Aix-Marseille

Legal name

Institut Créativité et Innovations d'Aix-Marseille (InCIAM)

Website

https://institut-inciam.univ-amu.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

InCIAM is a publicly funded interdisciplinary research institute within Aix-Marseille Université that connects 18 research units and 170 researchers to study creativity and innovation processes, train students, and partner with industry and public organizations through its CréaLab consultancy and DESU diploma program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research & Innovation Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG), Makerspace, Innovation Lab & Fab Lab Operations (Tools, Safety, Programming) (EDAEAGAI)

Keywords

• Creativity research
• Innovation consulting
• Academic training programs
• University research institute
• Design thinking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Aix-en-Provence

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding (Aix-Marseille Université / Amidex Foundation): As an 'Institut d'établissement' (establishment institute) of Aix-Marseille Université, InCIAM is coordinated by the Amidex Foundation (Initiative for Excellence). Core funding comes from the university foundation and is supplemented by the France 2030 investment plan. This is institutional/public funding rather than commercial revenue.
2. Research Project Grants: The institute issues calls for projects (Appels à projets) that support research activities. While these fund external researchers, the institute coordinates and administers these grant programs. Since 2020, 15 calls for projects have been launched resulting in 50 winning projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

InCIAM is an academic research institute attached to Aix-Marseille Université that conducts interdisciplinary research on creativity and innovation, delivers university-level training (notably the DESU Créativité et Innovation diploma), and runs the CréaLab consultancy center providing expertise and creative-problem-solving services to companies, public bodies, and associations. It also issues internal calls for research and doctoral-training projects to fund member-led work.

Product overview

InCIAM (Institut Créativité et Innovations d'Aix-Marseille) is an academic research institute within Aix-Marseille Université that operates as a network of 16 research units and 4 partner faculties. Rather than a unified software product, the institute offers a portfolio of services including: the DESU Créativité et Innovation academic program (a post-master's diploma in creativity and innovation), the CréaLab expert consultation centre for businesses and organizations seeking creativity and innovation support, various research funding programs (Appels à projets) for workshops, seed projects, and doctoral training, and a dynamic physical interaction simulator platform for human factors research. These offerings work together to fulfill the institute's mission of supporting creative processes and developing innovations in health, education, and labour through multidisciplinary collaboration between academia and the socio-economic world.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DESU Créativité et Innovation (Diplôme d'Études Supérieures Universitaires) University diploma in Creativity and Innovation offered in two tracks — Initial Training (for full-time students) and Continuing Training (for working professionals) — providing academic education on creativity methods, design thinking, and innovation processes.
• CréaLab – Centre d'expertise et de conseil en créativité Center of expertise and consultancy that provides creativity and innovation services (training, advice, expertise) to companies, public-sector bodies, and associations, addressing concrete innovation problems with research-backed methods.
• Appel à projets RECHERCHE (Research Call for Projects) Internal competitive funding program that supports member-led research projects in creativity and innovation, with awarded projects receiving financial backing and visibility on the InCIAM website.
• Appel à projets RECHERCHE (Flash) – Flash Research Call Short-duration, lightweight funding call to support rapid, exploratory research initiatives in creativity and innovation by InCIAM members.
• Appel à projets FORMATION Doctorants (Doctoral Training Call) Funding call dedicated to supporting doctoral training initiatives linked to creativity and innovation research within InCIAM.
• Dynamic Physical Interaction Simulator Platform Research and innovation platform for studying dynamic physical interactions, offered as a shared resource within InCIAM to support experimental and applied creativity research.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 research projects supported since 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 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

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• International Society for the Study of Creativity and Innovation (ISSCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic society focused on creativity and innovation research. InCIAM collaborates with ISSCI on the annual InCIAM-ISSCI Conference & Summer School, and teams compete for ISSCI prizes (€800 per group for promising research projects). The partnership provides international visibility and scholarly exchange opportunities.
• Haute école pédagogique du canton de VaudminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss teacher education institution partnered for international academic exchange on creativity and innovation in education. Collaboration supports interdisciplinary research connections in the European higher education space.
• AirbusflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor aerospace multinational as a national partner. Airbus collaborates with InCIAM on research projects involving human factors, system design, and innovation in aerospace contexts. The partnership provides industry perspective and potential application domains for institute research.
• ThalèsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefense and security technology company as a national partner. Thales engages with InCIAM for research collaboration on innovation processes, human factors, and technology development. Host of student internships in UX research at Thales Alenia Space Cannes.
• OrangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor telecommunications company as a national partner. Orange collaborates with InCIAM on digital innovation research, creativity in technology contexts, and potential student placement opportunities.
• Université Gustave EiffelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner at Salon-de-Provence location. Collaboration on academic research, student exchange, and shared research initiatives in creativity and innovation domains.
• Inter-MadecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial and Solidarity Economy incubator on the Aix-Marseille territory. Partnership bridges academic research with social innovation ecosystem, supporting startups and organizations focused on social impact.
• Crocos Go DigitalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital incubator located at Belle de Mai in Marseille. Partnership connects InCIAM with digital startups and entrepreneurs, facilitating innovation collaboration and knowledge transfer.
• IRTS (Institut Régional de Travail Social)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional social work institute partner. Collaboration on research related to social innovation, professional practices, and creativity applications in social work contexts.
• Fantastic SourcingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal startup partner. Connection to the innovation ecosystem supporting knowledge transfer between academic research and entrepreneurial practice.
• Axyn RobotiqueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRobotics startup partner on the Aix-Marseille territory. Collaboration on technology innovation research with applications in robotics and human-robot interaction.
• CESPA (Centre d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique des Armées)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefense public health research center. Partnership supports InCIAM's health research axis through collaboration on epidemiology, public health innovation, and military health applications.
• CREA (Centre de Recherche de l'Armée de l'Air)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Air Force research center. Collaboration on human factors, innovation in defense contexts, and research applications to air force operational environments.
• Centre de Recherche en Psychologie de la Connaissance, du Langage et de l'Émotion (PSYCLE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMU research center (UR 3273) specializing in knowledge psychology, language, and emotion. PSYCLÉ hosts the InCIAM headquarters and is a key co-organizer of major events including the InCIAM-ISSCI Conference & Summer School. Director Nathalie Bonnardel is also affiliated with PSYCLÉ.
• Laboratory for Speech and Language (LPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPL (UMR 7309) partnered with InCIAM to host the A/R/Tography doctoral seminar (March 2025). Led by Sandrine Eschenauer, who serves as Deputy Director of InCIAM.
• Polysecure TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch team that recorded the HUMACO podcast following the three-day scientific seminar series. Collaboration extends the reach of InCIAM-organized research events through multimedia content.
• Sapienza University of Rome / CIVISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIVIS European University alliance partner at Sapienza University. InCIAM doctoral student Samantha Costa (Ampiric) conducted academic visit (May 2025) collaborating on dance-based inclusive education research. Also collaborating on ARISE study on theatrical approach for neurodevelopmental disorders.
• University of British Columbia - Research-based Theatre LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor George Belliveau's laboratory at UBC Vancouver contributed to the A/R/Tography doctoral seminar. The lab specializes in theatre as research methodology and promotes transdisciplinary collaboration between researchers, artists, and socio-economic stakeholders.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• IDEO: Global design and innovation consultancy. Comparable as an organization applying creativity and design-thinking methodologies to industry and public-sector clients, though structured as a private consultancy rather than an academic institute.

Broad incumbents

• INRIA (Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique): French national public research institute focused on digital sciences and technology. Comparable as a French public research establishment coordinating multidisciplinary research units and doctoral schools, though InCIAM specializes in creativity/human factors rather than computer science.
• CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique): France's largest public research organization. Comparable as the parent ecosystem providing researchers (CNRS-affiliated researchers are part of InCIAM's network) and serving as the structural backbone of French public interdisciplinary research.

Direct peers

• Parsons School of Design (The New School): US design school offering interdisciplinary programs in design, creativity, and innovation. Comparable as an academic institution combining creativity research, professional/continuing education, and industry partnership models similar to InCIAM's DESU and CréaLab.
• Stanford Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school): Stanford's hub for design thinking and creativity research embedded within a major university. Directly comparable as a multidisciplinary institute combining research, executive education (DESU-like programs), and industry engagement around creativity and innovation.
• MIT Media Lab: MIT's interdisciplinary research laboratory focused on creativity, innovation, and human-machine interaction. Highly comparable as an academic research institute that bridges fundamental research with industry partnerships and applied outcomes.
• Institute for the Future (IFTF): California-based nonprofit research organization studying creativity, innovation, and future workforce trends. Comparable as an institute conducting forward-looking research on creativity and innovation processes for both public and private sector partners.
• Royal College of Art: UK university dedicated to art, design, and creativity research with strong industry partnerships. Comparable as a higher-education institution focused on creativity/innovation research and cross-disciplinary collaboration with socio-economic partners.
• École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs (ENSAD): French grande école for applied arts, design, and creativity education and research. Directly comparable as a French higher-education institution dedicated to creativity research, design methodology, and industry collaboration.
• Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: German university combining art, design, and media studies with engineering and natural sciences. Comparable as a European university emphasizing interdisciplinary creativity research and industry-academia partnerships in applied innovation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inciam

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about InCIAM - Institut Créativité et Innovations Aix-Marseille