Maison Européenne des Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société (MESHS)

What Maison Européenne des Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société (MESHS) does

MESHS (Maison Européenne des Sciences Humaines et Sociales) Lille Nord de France is a public research support unit (Unité d'Appui et de Recherche, UAR 3185) operating under the joint tutelle of CNRS and six regional universities in Hauts-de-France (Université de Lille, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Université d'Artois, Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, and Fédération Universitaire et Pluridisciplinaire de Lille), with additional funding from Région Hauts-de-France. Founded in 2008 and headquartered on the Campus Flers-Château in Villeneuve d'Ascq, MESHS provides funding, training, data access, and event coordination to 43 affiliated laboratories and approximately 2,000 associated researchers working in the social sciences and humanities (SHS).

The core operational product is the PUDL (Plateforme Universitaire de Donn\u00e9es de Lille), an integrated quantitative research data platform established in 2002 that serves as the local antenna of the national PROGEDO research infrastructure and a partner of Huma-Num. PUDL provides researchers with access to over 25 international and European survey databases (ESS, SHARE, GGP, EVS, EU-SILC, ICPSR, Eurostat, CESSDA, OECD, ELIPSS), secure CASD data access through three SD-Box terminals on the MESHS campus, and training in open-source analytical tools including R, Python, QGIS, LimeSurvey, OpenRefine, TXM, Cytoscape, Magrit, and Hyphe. The platform runs an annual Data-SHS training week (since 2017) and a Mixed Methods Seminar series (since 2022). MESHS also operates project financing calls, Master 2 internship funding via the CPER EE4.0 program, the Midi MESHS monthly webinar, audiovisual distribution on YouTube and Canal-U, and hosts research structures including IF2RT (mental health) and PRÉHAUTS.

The business model is entirely public institutional funding. All services are provided free of charge to affiliated researchers and laboratories. MESHS employs approximately 20 staff and generates no commercial revenue. The institution is a member of the national Réseau des Maisons des Sciences Humaines (RnMSH) and operates within the French national system of Maisons des Sciences de l'Homme.

Name

Maison Européenne des Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société (MESHS)

Legal name

Maison Européenne des Sciences Humaines et Sociales (MESHS)

Website

https://meshs.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maison Européenne des Sciences Humaines et Sociales (MESHS) is a French public research support unit (UAR 3185) under CNRS and six regional universities, providing funding, training, secure data access, and event coordination to 43 affiliated laboratories and 2,000 social sciences researchers in Hauts-de-France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Villeneuve d'Ascq

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public institutional funding: MESHS is a UAR 3185 (Unité d'Appui et de Recherche) funded by CNRS and regional universities including University of Lille, University of Picardie Jules Verne, University of Artois, University of Littoral Côte d'Opale, University Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, and Fédération Universitaire et Pluridisciplinaire de Lille. Additional funding from Région Hauts-de-France.
2. Research project funding: The organization issues calls for projects to fund research teams and provides financing for Master 2 internships through programs like CPER EE4.0.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MESHS is a public research support unit (UAR 3185) that provides funding, training, data access, and event organization services for human and social sciences research in the Hauts-de-France region. Its core deliverable is the PUDL (Plateforme Universitaire de Données de Lille) platform, which offers quantitative researchers assistance with finding, accessing, and analyzing French, European, and international survey and administrative data, including secure CASD terminals, plus recurring training programs (Semaine Data-SHS, Séminaire Méthodes mixtes, Journées d'étude) and project-financing calls.

Product overview

MESHS (Maison Européenne des Sciences Humaines et Sociales) Lille Nord de France is a UAR 3185 research support unit that operates as a platform providing integrated services for human and social sciences (SHS) research. The organization centers on its PUDL (Plateforme Universitaire de Données de Lille) core service, which offers quantitative data access, training, and support for French and European survey data. The MESHS portfolio includes regular training programs including the annual Semaine Data-SHS (week-long intensive workshops since 2017), the Séminaire Méthodes mixtes en SHS (mixed methods seminar series since 2022), and various study days on major surveys. Additional services include CASD secure data access terminals, research project financing, Master 2 internship funding through CPER EE4.0, the Midi MESHS monthly webinar series, audiovisual content distribution via YouTube and Canal-U, and hosted research structures including IF2RT. The platform is integrated into national research infrastructure networks including PROGEDO and Huma-Num, and connects researchers to over 25 international survey datasets and specialized analysis tools including R, Python, LimeSurvey, OpenRefine, TXM, Cytoscape, Magrit, QGIS, and Nesstar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PUDL (Plateforme Universitaire de Données de Lille): A platform supporting quantitative research in social sciences, helping researchers access and use data from public statistics
• Semaine Data-SHS
• Séminaire Méthodes mixtes en SHS
• DHNord

Products and services

• MESHS Research Support Unit (UAR 3185) - Lille Nord de France Core research support unit providing funding, training, event organization, and hosting of research structures for human and social sciences in Hauts-de-France. Targeted at affiliated laboratories, researchers, and doctoral students.
• PUDL (Plateforme Universitaire de Données de Lille) Quantitative research support platform providing access to French and international survey and statistical data, training in methods and software, and assistance with data acquisition and analysis for SHS researchers.
• Semaine Data-SHS (Annual Training Week) Annual week-long intensive workshop series covering data production, processing, and analysis methods in SHS, including hands-on training in R, Python, LimeSurvey, OpenRefine, TXM, and other open-source tools. Targeted at SHS researchers, doctoral students, and faculty.
• Séminaire Méthodes mixtes en SHS Recurring methodological seminar cycle combining qualitative and quantitative approaches in social sciences, featuring researcher presentations and cross-disciplinary discussions. Targeted at SHS researchers and doctoral students.
• CASD SD-Box Access Service Secure remote terminal service providing access to confidential individual-level data available through CASD, with three SD-box terminals located on the MESHS campus for use by affiliated laboratory members.
• Public Statistics Data Access Service Assistance service helping researchers identify, obtain, and understand quantitative data from French and international public statistics, including guidance on PROGEDO portal orders, ICPSR, Eurostat, OECD, CESSDA, and CASD procedures.
• Research Project and Event Financing Calls Competitive calls for projects providing financial support for research projects, participation in study days, seminars, and conferences, and CASD data subscription financing for affiliated laboratory members.
• Master 2 Internship Funding (CPER EE4.0) Funding program for Master 2 research internships at the interface of electrical engineering and human/social sciences, part of the CPER EE4.0 project, financed by the State, Région Hauts-de-France, and the European Union via FEDER.
• Journées d'étude (Study Days on European and International Surveys) Annual study days focused on major European and international surveys (ESS, SHARE, GGP, EVS, ELIPSS), combining methodology presentations with hands-on data workshops.
• Data-SHS Collective Training Sessions Collective training sessions on methodological questions and specific free software, including R, text data analysis, sequence analysis, Python, and LaTeX for social sciences.
• Audiovisual Content Distribution (YouTube and Canal-U) Distribution of event recordings, scientific interviews, and research project productions through the MESHS YouTube channel and the Canal-U higher-education video platform.
• HNOMAD (Humanités Numériques, Outils, Méthodes et Analyse de Données) Internal MESHS service unit providing humanities numerical tools, methods, and data analysis services to support digital humanities research.
• DEGESCI (Développement, Gestion Scientifique et Communication) Internal MESHS service unit providing support for project development, scientific management, valorization, mediation, and communication.
• IF2RT (Institut F2RSM Psy et Résilience) Research institute hosted by MESHS focusing on mental health, resilience, and psychosocial factors.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration27 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreOthersPrimary tutelle (oversight institution) of MESHS as UAR 3185. CNRS provides institutional framework and scientific oversight for the research support unit.
• Université de LillecoreOthersPrimary tutelle university of MESHS. Hosts the MESHS headquarters on Campus Flers-Château.
• Université de Picardie Jules VernecoreOthersRegional university tutelle of MESHS based in Amiens.
• Université d'ArtoiscoreOthersRegional university tutelle of MESHS.
• Université du Littoral Côte d'OpalecoreOthersRegional university tutelle of MESHS.
• Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-FrancecoreOthersRegional university tutelle of MESHS.
• Fédération Universitaire et Pluridisciplinaire de LillecoreOthersUniversity federation tutelle of MESHS.
• Région Hauts-de-FrancecoreOthersRegional government funding body providing financial support to MESHS and research projects including CPER EE4.0.
• PROGEDO (Infrastructure de Recherche)coreTechnology or IntegrationNational research infrastructure IR* dedicated to data production and management in social sciences. PUDL is the local antenna of PROGEDO in Lille. MESHS collaborates with PROGEDO for data access and training activities.
• Huma-Num (Infrastructure de Recherche)coreTechnology or IntegrationNational research infrastructure for digital humanities. MESHS collaborates with Huma-Num for digital humanities projects and data management.
• RnMSH (Réseau national des MSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of Maisons des Sciences Humaines. MESHS is a member of the network, collaborating on shared resources, best practices, and joint initiatives across all French MSH.
• CASD (Centre d'Accès Sécurisé aux Données)coreTechnology or IntegrationSecure data access center providing confidential individual-level data for research. PUDL provides SD-box terminals for accessing CASD data at MESHS facilities.
• CPER EE4.0 (Contrat de Plan État-Région Energie Electrique 4.0)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint program financing Master 2 internships at the intersection of electrical engineering and social sciences. Federates electrical engineering and SHS laboratories in Hauts-de-France region, funded by State, Region Hauts-de-France, and European Union via FEDER funds.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/meshs.bsky.social
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MESHS
• Facebookfacebook.com/meshs.lille
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/meshs-lille-nord-de-france

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maison Européenne des Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société (MESHS)