Think it & Do it Innovation Days at Évry in collaboration with MIT
On 7 and 8 April 2025, Université Évry Paris-Saclay, an associate university of Université Paris-Saclay, will be hosting an original event, 2025 Innovation Days: Think it & Do it, where the public will have the chance to dive right into the heart of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology transfer.
These days are organised in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), an American research institute and university specialising in the fields of science and technology, and considered one of the best institutions in the world. The event is part of Innovation Alliance Université Paris-Saclay, the university innovation cluster (PUI) funded by the French government as part of France 2030 and led by Université Paris-Saclay.
7 April – Workshops & innovation programme: The first day of the event will be dedicated to discovering innovative projects developed by Université Évry Paris-Saclay and Genopole. Participants will have the opportunity to browse interactive stands, attend mini-lectures and discover cutting-edge innovations. The day will conclude with a friendly evening of discussions with start-ups, investors and researchers.
8 April – Private seminars and workshops: The second day will start with a seminar and continue in the afternoon with private coaching workshops from MIT
Schedule:
10:00 - 10:30: Support
• Hosted by the Research and International Relations Office, the Vice-President for International Relations and Innovation at Université Évry Paris-Saclay, and Genopole, with a presentation of the Shaker system;
• Lecture (details to follow).
10:45 - 11:30: Ideation
• Hosted by MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE), the laboratory of innovation, technologies, economics and management (LITEM – Univ. Paris-Saclay/Univ. Évry Paris-Saclay/Institut Mines-Télécom Business School (IMT-BS)) and Genopole, with a presentation of the JAPET start-up. This start-up develops innovative solutions to combat musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the workplace. It was founded by Antoine Noel, who worked on his thesis at MECHE-MIT, a laboratory for advanced mechatronics and nanotechnology at MIT, and Kamel Youcef-Toumi, director of MECHE-MIT;
• Lecture by Kamal Youcef-Toumi, professor at MIT: Impact through innovation.
14:00 - 15:00: Mentoring
• Hosted by MIT's SandBox, a seed fund, mentoring and entrepreneurship education programme, IncubAlliance, the Université Paris-Saclay's Maison du Doctorat, and Genopole;
• Lecture: presentation of SandBox.
15:15 - 16:15: Funding
• Hosted by Université Évry Paris-Saclay's The Bench Incubator, SATT Paris-Saclay and Genopole;
• Lecture (details to follow).
16:30 - 17:30: Entrepreneurship
• Hosted by SATT Paris-Saclay, the Research and International Relations Office and the Vice-President for Economic Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Université Evry Paris-Saclay;
• Lecture by Antoine Noel, CEO of JAPET: From research to founding a tech company, think outside the box!
The stands and stations will be available throughout the day.
Seminar: Encouraging and simplifying innovation in university communities
Speakers:
• Jinane ABOUNADI, Executive Director of the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund Program
• Michel MARITON, former Vice-President Innovation at Université Paris-Saclay
Round table: MIT, an American inspiration to be recreated in the French system
Speakers:
• Christelle MONVILLE, Vice-President Research at Université Évry Paris-Saclay
• Jinane ABOUNADI, Executive Director of the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund Program
• Kamal YOUCEF-TOUMI, MIT professor, member of the MIT International Programs Council
• Xavier APOLINARSKI, Vice-President Innovation at Université Paris-Saclay
• Arielle SANTÉ, CEO IncubAlliance
• Christophe LANNEAU, Director of Research at Genopole
• Antoine NOEL, CEO JAPET
• Christophe GERSCHEL, Managing Director at The Bench Incubator
MIT private coaching workshops
Discussions with Jinane Abounadi (MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund Program) and Kamal Youcef Toumi (MIT professor and research and strategy advisor).
Whether you're a professional, a student, a PhD candidate, a researcher, an innovation enthusiast, or just interested in this topic, this event will be your chance to discover how innovation takes shape from idea to reality, on campus and beyond.
The event is free but registration is recommended: sign up