EMLV (École de Management Léonard de Vinci) and De Vinci Higher Education recently inaugurated the first edition of Innovation Day, under the theme "Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem". The event brought together experts from academia and industry. In collaboration with the Association Internationale de Management Stratégique (AIMS), the leading French-speaking network of researchers and teachers in management, strategy and organization, the day highlighted crucial issues linked to sustainability.

A partnership with M@n@gement magazine

The event also saw the participation of French magazine M@n@gement, a pioneering open-access journal in the field. The magazine launched a special issue entitled "Delivering Sustainability through Ecosystemic Innovation", reinforcing the impact of this day dedicated to sustainable innovation.

Innovation Day program: a call for contributions

A call for papers was launched for Innovation Day, attracting 21 proposals from researchers at 28 institutions. These included deans, vice-deans and presidents of universities and business schools.

These contributions formed the basis for a one-day Paper Development Workshop (PDW), where researchers were able to refine their work through collaborative and constructive discussions.

Round table: experts from industry and academia

One of the highlights of the event was the round table discussion which brought together academic and industry experts on the theme of sustainable innovation. Discussions underlined the importance of moving beyond individual approaches to the challenges of sustainable development, whether environmental or social.

The ecosystem approach, which encourages cross-sector collaboration, was highlighted as the way forward. This vision is essential if we are to tackle the challenges of sustainable development effectively and collaboratively.

The central debate of the conference focused on the urgent need to foster sustainable innovations based on collaborative or competitive approaches. To meet growing societal expectations in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, it is imperative that innovations emerge from ecosystem partnerships.

As several speakers emphasized, no single company can meet the challenges of sustainable development on its own. The future of business therefore lies in building ecosystem partnerships that foster a circular and shared economy.

The event provided a platform for exchanging views on the challenges facing sustainable innovation ecosystems. EMLV alumni and partners also participated, testifying to the institution's commitment to creating real impact through collaborative efforts.

A panel of experts

The round table brought together a diverse panel of experts from academia and industry, each bringing perspectives on sustainable innovation. Among them were:

• Thibaut Bardon - Audencia Business School, Nantes, France
• Pierre-Jean Barlatier - EDHEC Business School, Nice, France
• Jingshu Du - EMLV Business School, Paris, France
• Emmanuel Josserand - EMLV Business School, Paris and University of Technology Sydney
• Maximilien Nayaradou - Managing Director, Finance Innovation
• Anthony Papon - Vice-President, Capgemini France
• Jason Sturdy - CEO and Founder, Octilyon

These experts shared their thoughts, reinforcing the debate on the future of sustainable innovation in an ecosystem context.

Sustainable solutions for tomorrow's challenges

Innovation Day has laid the foundations for an ongoing dialogue on sustainability through collaborative innovation. This annual event aims to attract thinkers and industry experts each year to explore how companies and institutions can work together to deliver sustainable solutions to future challenges.

As the conversation around sustainability continues to evolve, this inaugural edition highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration in driving ecosystem-based innovation to meet tomorrow's needs.

Find out more about EMLV's programs.