What Planète Sciences does

Planète Sciences is a French non-profit association (Association loi 1901) that delivers hands-on science and technology education to young people across metropolitan France. Founded in 1962 per firmographic records (with the Méditerranéen regional branch claiming 1979 origins), it operates through a federated network of 8 regional delegations and 7 relay offices coordinated from its national headquarters in Evry-Courcouronnes, with the registered siège social at the Palais de la découverte in Paris. Its programs cover four core thematic areas — astronomy, space, environment, and robotics — delivered via in-school workshops, vacation scientific camps (Stages Scientifiques), customizable on-demand ateliers, BAFA certification training for youth workers, and signature competitions such as the Coupe de France de Robotique Junior and Défis Solaires.

The association's product surface extends beyond workshops to include the Centre d'Astronomie Jean-Marc Salomon, the Espace des Sciences et de Découverte, the FabRiquet fablab in Ramonville, and Le Camion Numérique, a mobile digital outreach unit launched to reach underserved audiences. It also produces the 'La Science donne des Elles' video series with Ya+K Production to highlight women in science careers. There is no proprietary technology platform in the software sense; the offering is fundamentally labor- and facility-intensive pedagogy delivered by trained animateurs.

The business model is that of a French associative non-profit: revenue is generated through a mix of membership fees (adhésion), individual donations, service contracts with schools and leisure centers, public-sector grants from national ministries and regional/local authorities, and co-funding from institutional partners including CNES, CNRS, EDF, and CAF. The association holds official agrément from the French Ministry of Youth, the Ministry of National Education, and the Ministry of Research — a regulatory status that effectively licenses it for public-sector science education delivery. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; activities are offered through membership, donations, and program-specific fees.

Name

Planète Sciences

Legal name

Planète Sciences

Website

https://planete-sciences.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Planète Sciences is a French non-profit association delivering hands-on science and technology education — astronomy, space, environment, robotics — to young people through 8 regional delegations and 7 relay offices across France, funded by donations, membership fees, and public-sector grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD)

Keywords

• Science education
• Youth programs
• Hands-on workshops
• Astronomy activities
• Robotics competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Courcouronnes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership fees and donations: The association operates as a non-profit (Loi 1901) and generates revenue through membership fees (adhésion) and donations (faire un don) from supporters and families.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Planète Sciences delivers hands-on science education activities in astronomy, space, environment, and robotics for young people aged roughly 7 to 25. Offerings include in-school and out-of-school scientific animations, vacation scientific camps, customised school workshops, BAFA educator training, school projects, and themed initiatives such as "La Science donne des Elles". Delivery is organised through a federated network of 8 regional delegations and 7 relay offices supported by fixed and mobile facilities.

Product overview

Planète Sciences is a non-profit association (Association loi 1901) dedicated to promoting science and technology education for young people across France. Founded in 1979, the organization operates a network of 8 regional delegations and 7 relay locations. The core offering consists of hands-on scientific animations, workshops, and vacation camps covering four main thematic areas: Astronomy (observation and telescopes), Space (rockets and weather balloons), Environment (nature and biodiversity), and Robotics (design and programming). The organization also operates specialized facilities including the Centre d'Astronomie Jean-Marc Salomon and the Espace des Sciences et de Découverte. Additional offerings include FabRiquet (a fablab in Ramonville), Le Camion Numérique (an itinerant digital truck), and BAFA training programs for youth workers. Projects range from short workshops to long-term school collaborations including the Coupe de France de Robotique Junior and Défis Solaires competitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial recognition and approval from the French Ministry of Youth for science education activities.
• Ministry of National EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial recognition from the French Ministry of National Education as an approved science education provider.
• Ministry of ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial recognition from the French Ministry of Research for science outreach activities.
• GRAINE PACAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of GRAINE PACA (Réseau régional d'éducation à l'environnement en Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), a regional network for environmental education.
• Réseau École et NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the national École et Nature network focused on environmental education in schools.
• CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with French Space Agency for space-themed educational activities including micro-rocket authorization programs.
• Cité de l'Espace (Toulouse)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Cité de l'Espace for Défis Solaires events and astronomy activities in the Toulouse region.
• Ya+K ProductionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for 'La Science donne des Elles' video series featuring women in science careers.
• CNRSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with French National Center for Scientific Research for scientific content and expertise.
• MILSETminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of MILSET (Mouvement International pour le Loisir Scientifique et Technique), international science education movement.
• CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Family Allowance Fund for family-oriented science activities and holiday programs.
• EDFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with French electricity provider for energy-themed educational activities.
• Regional and Local CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with Conseil Régional PACA, Conseil Général des Alpes-Maritimes, Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, and local municipalities including Nice, Marseille, Grasse, La Seyne-sur-Mer, and Salon-de-Provence.
• CIETMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of CIETM (Comité International des Exchanges et des Stages avec les Maisons des jeunes et de la Culture).
• Quai des Savoirs (Toulouse)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Quai des Savoirs science center in Toulouse for science workshops and activities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Science Ouverte: French non-profit that promotes science among youth, particularly in underprivileged areas of Île-de-France. Comparable as a peer non-profit delivering science outreach to young people, with overlap in target audience and educational philosophy.
• La Casemate: Grenoble-based CCSTI science center delivering hands-on science exhibitions and workshops. Comparable as a regional science outreach organisation operating in the same Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes territory as Planète Sciences' AURA delegation.
• Les Francas: French national federation for popular education, providing extra-curricular activities and BAFA training for youth. Comparable as a peer organisation training animateurs and delivering youth programming, with potential overlap in BAFA specialisations and leisure-center partnerships.
• Centre Sciences (CCSTI Centre-Val de Loire): Centre de Culture Scientifique, Technique et Industrielle serving the Centre-Val de Loire region. Directly comparable as a regional science center delivering exhibitions, workshops, and school programming, operating within the same French CCSTI ecosystem.
• Association Française d'Astronomie (AFA): French non-profit association dedicated to amateur astronomy and astronomy outreach. Directly comparable on the astronomy and space education components of Planète Sciences' programming, with similar national network of regional clubs.
• La Main à la Pâte: Foundation (founded by Nobel laureate Georges Charpak) that promotes inquiry-based science teaching in French primary and secondary schools. Comparable as a school-focused science education provider with national reach and ministerial backing.
• Réseau École et Nature: National French network for environmental education in schools. Planète Sciences is a listed member; comparable as a peer organisation promoting nature and environmental science pedagogy, with overlapping thematic and audience scope.
• Les Petits Débrouillards: French non-profit association delivering hands-on science workshops and activities for young people across France. Direct comparable in mission, pedagogical approach (experimental, inquiry-based), and youth-focused programming.

Broad incumbents

• Cité de l'Espace: Toulouse-based space-themed science center and Planète Sciences partner for Défis Solaires. Comparable as a much larger established space-education venue, serving overlapping family and school audiences with astronomy and space programming.
• Universcience (Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie / Palais de la Découverte): Major French public science institution operating the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie and Palais de la Découverte in Paris. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in French science outreach, with overlapping themes but vastly larger scale and resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/PlaneteSciences
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlaneteSciences
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/planete-sciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/planete_sciences

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Planète Sciences