Société Hydrotechnique de France

What Société Hydrotechnique de France does

Société Hydrotechnique de France (SHF), founded in 1912 and headquartered at 25 rue des Favorites in Paris (15th arrondissement), is a French learned society (association loi 1901) that federates academic researchers, professional engineers, public authorities, and students active in water sciences, hydraulics, and water management. SHF's core activity is the dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge through a portfolio of publications — most prominently the peer-reviewed international journal La Houille Blanche, published continuously since 1902 and indexed by ISI, Scopus, and CNRS — together with the biennial Cahiers de la SHF, technical guides, white papers, and digitized Hydrological Yearbooks (1939-1969). The organization also operates the ANSWER participatory educational platform, co-developed with the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and the GIS HED² research consortium.

The society runs a community-led go-to-market model anchored by tiered individual, young-professional, student (free), and corporate memberships (€385-€3,850/year by employee count), recurring journal subscriptions, one-time conference and event registrations across roughly 15+ water-science themes (Hydrométrie, Sécheresse, DTPF, NEGF, Eau & IA, Aménagements et biodiversité, TSMR, etc.), and qualifying continuing-professional-training services (registered provider under agreement 11 75 02902 75). Marketing runs through the shf-hydro.org storefront, a LinkedIn page, a YouTube channel (@SHF-hydro, 11.7K+ subscribers), Facebook, the email newsletter Les Échos de la SHF, and the events themselves. SHF governs through a Bureau Exécutif, Conseil d'Administration, and Comité Scientifique & Technique, and is co-founder of the GIS HED² scientific interest group with EDF, INRAE, BRGM, CEREMA, CNRS, IFREMER, and the Ministry of Ecological Transition. The current President is Jean-Paul Chabard.

Name

Société Hydrotechnique de France

Legal name

Société Hydrotechnique de France

Website

https://shf-hydro.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Société Hydrotechnique de France (SHF) is a French learned society (founded 1912) that publishes the La Houille Blanche journal, organizes 6+ annual water-science conferences, and serves a community of researchers, engineers, public authorities, and students in hydraulics and water management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Society and Water Sciences Publications

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI), Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH)

Keywords

• Water sciences publications
• Scientific conference services
• Professional membership programs
• Hydraulic engineering research
• Hydrology journal subscriptions

Headquarters

HQ city

Chatou

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues from individuals (standard and young professional), companies (tiered by employee count), students (free), and honour members. Individual membership at €100/year; young professionals under 35 at €35/year; corporate memberships from €385 to €3,850/year based on headcount.
2. Conference and Event Registrations: Revenue from registrations for colloquia, seminars, and training events. Tiered pricing for normal, SHF member, doctoral candidate, and retiree rates. Events include Hydrométrie, DTPF, NEGF, Sécheresse, TSMR, and the Eau & IA Congress.
3. Journal Subscriptions and Publication Fees: Subscription to La Houille Blanche (International Water Journal), plus author publication charges (APC) with a 15% discount for SHF members. The journal publishes six issues per year in French and English.
4. Professional Training Services: Events and seminars qualify as continuing professional training (formation professionnelle continue) under French law. Registered training provider under agreement number 11 75 02902 75.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Société Hydrotechnique de France (SHF) is a French learned society (association loi 1901) that publishes the peer-reviewed scientific journal La Houille Blanche (six issues per year, French and English), organizes a calendar of scientific colloquia and symposia on hydraulics, hydrology, fluid mechanics, and water sciences, administers four annual scientific awards (Jean Valembois, Henri Milon, Pierre Massé, Grand Prix d'Hydrotechnique), and operates tiered individual and corporate membership programs for water-sector professionals. SHF also produces technical guides and white papers, sells digitized historical hydrological yearbooks (1939–1969), co-develops the ANSWER educational platform with the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, and delivers continuing professional training in water sciences.

Product overview

Société Hydrotechnique de France (SHF) is a learned society (association loi 1901) founded in 1912 that federates actors in water sciences and management. Rather than a unified software product, SHF operates as a portfolio of professional services including publications (La Houille Blanche journal, Cahiers de la SHF, Technical Guides, Hydrological Directories), educational content through the ANSWER platform, conferences and symposia, an awards program (Jean Valembois, Henri Millon, Pierre Massé prizes), and tiered membership programs. The organization serves academics, researchers, engineers, and public authorities interested in hydraulics and water sciences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Houille Blanche: The international water journal published by SHF since 1902, covering sciences and techniques of water and hydraulics. Referenced by ISI, Scopus, and CNRS.
• Les Cahiers de la SHF

Products and services

• La Houille Blanche Journal Peer-reviewed scientific journal on the sciences and techniques of water and hydraulics, indexed by ISI, Scopus, and CNRS, published six times per year in French and English since 1902. All 20th-century articles are freely available in open-access archives. Aimed at researchers, engineers, and water-sector professionals.
• Cahiers de la SHF Biennial publication summarizing SHF activities, governance changes, editorial policy updates, ecosystem interviews, and recent symposia. Aimed at SHF members, partner organizations, and the broader water-science community.
• Technical Guides & White Papers Collection of technical guides and white papers covering environment/pollution, history of hydraulics, hydroelectricity, marine energy, mountain hydrology, hydrometry, fluid mechanics, flood risk, human/social sciences, and sediment transport. Sold to engineers, consultants, water utilities, and researchers.
• Hydrological Yearbooks (Annuaires Hydrologiques) Digitized historical hydrological yearbooks of France published from 1939 to 1969, containing daily flow chronicles from 54 stations. Available in PDF format. Used by researchers, hydrologists, and water-resource managers for historical baseline analysis.
• ANSWER Educational Platform Participatory educational project publishing scientific fact sheets, in-situ recordings, and laboratory simulations across categories including general hydraulics, hydrology, maritime hydraulics, estuarine hydraulics, river hydraulics, and morphodynamics. Co-developed with GIS HED² and the French Ministry of Ecological Transition for students, teachers, and the informed public.
• Conferences & Symposia Portfolio of professional scientific colloquia and symposia held across France on topics including Hydrométrie, Dispersed Two-Phase Flows (DTPF), Non-Equilibrium Gas Flows (NEGF), Sécheresse, Transport Solide et Morphodynamique (TSMR), Aménagements et biodiversité, and the Congress on Water & AI (Eau & IA). Includes in-person and videoconference registration, with tiered pricing for normal, SHF member, doctoral, student, and retiree attendees.
• SHF Awards Program Four annual award programs recognizing contributions to water sciences: Jean Valembois Prize (Fluid Mechanics, co-sponsored with EDF, for French-speaking doctoral theses), Henri Milon Prize (Hydrology), Pierre Massé Prize (Water & Society), and the Grand Prix d'Hydrotechnique (Hydrotechnical Grand Award). Open to researchers and professionals in the water sector.
• SHF Membership Programs Tiered annual membership including student (free), young professional under 35 (€35/year), individual (€100/year), corporate scaled by employee count (€385 to €3,850/year), and honour memberships. Member benefits include member-area access to conference proceedings, preferential conference rates, free e-colloquium access 3 months post-event, and 15% discount on publication charges in La Houille Blanche.

Named customers8 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EDF (Électricité de France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDF is a key corporate partner of SHF. The two organizations co-sponsor the annual Jean Valembois Prize for doctoral theses in fluid mechanics, demonstrating a deep strategic alliance in research recognition. EDF is also a member of the GIS HED² research consortium and a member organization of SHF.
• Ministère de la Transition Ecologique et SolidairecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe French Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity-based Transition is a core institutional partner of SHF. The ministry's research department co-developed the ANSWER educational platform with SHF and the GIS HED². The ministry is listed as a direct partner on SHF's partner page and collaborates on conferences such as the Aménagements et biodiversité event.
• Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOFB is a key institutional partner co-organizing SHF conferences such as Aménagements et biodiversité des cours d'eau. The partnership involves the scientific committee and contributes to SHF's mission of bridging research and public policy in water and biodiversity management.
• SCHAPI (Service central d'hydrométéorologie et d'appui à la prévision des inondations)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCHAPI is the French central hydrometeorology service and flood forecasting support unit. It is listed as both a member and partner of SHF, contributing to national flood risk management initiatives and hydrological research.
• INRAE (Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'eau et l'environnement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINRAE is France's national research institute for agriculture, water, and the environment. It is a member of SHF, a member of the GIS HED² research consortium, and contributes to SHF's scientific committees and working groups.
• CEREMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEREMA (Centre d'études et d'expertise sur les risques, l'environnement, la mobilité et l'aménagement) is a key public research and expertise center. Listed as both a member and partner of SHF, and as a member of the GIS HED² consortium.
• BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRGM is France's geological survey and research bureau. Listed as a member and partner of SHF, and as a member of the GIS HED² consortium, contributing to groundwater and subsurface research.
• GIS HED² (Groupement d'Intérêt Scientifique Hydraulique pour l'Environnement et le Développement Durable)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIS HED² is a scientific interest group co-founded by SHF, the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, and research institutions. Its purpose is to strengthen and extend research on environmental hydraulics for coastal, estuarine, port, urban, and river management. SHF is a founding member. GIS HED² members include Argans, Artelia, BRGM, Cerema, Cerfacs, CNRS, EDF, ENGEES, IFREMER, INRAE, and others.
• AIRH / IAHR (International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIRH is the French-language secretariat of IAHR. Individual SHF members gain associated membership in AIRH, creating a direct cross-benefit relationship between the two leading hydro-environment organizations globally. IAHR is listed as an associated association of SHF.
• Agence Française de Développement (AFD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFD is France's development finance institution. Listed as an institutional partner of SHF, contributing to international water development projects and knowledge sharing.
• ENGEES (École Nationale du Génie de l'Eau et de l'Environnement de Strasbourg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerENGEES is the French national school of water and environment engineering. Listed as a member and partner of SHF and GIS HED². Co-organizes SHF conferences, including the Aménagements et biodiversité colloquia held at its Strasbourg campus.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SHF-hydro
• Facebookfacebook.com/SHFhydro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/organization-guest/company/société-hydrotechnique-de-france

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 Société Hydrotechnique de France