2024 Learning Expedition
04 Fév 2025
Learnex: A Learning Adventure at the Heart of Innovation and Collaboration
Our Learnex « Large Corporations/SMEs/Start-ups Relations » took place in Clermont-Ferrand from November 25 to 27, featuring valuable exchanges, inspiring discoveries, and key insights on how innovation and collaboration can transform regions. One of the highlights was our immersion in Michelin’s ecosystem, a perfect example of how a major corporation can drive territorial development. Within Parc Cataroux, several initiatives illustrate this vision:
- Hall 32, supporting local industries and fostering industrial skills development.
- The Sustainable Materials Center, a dedicated space for the companies of tomorrow.
- Quartier des Pistes, hosting innovative activities in health and culture.
These examples highlight that innovation is, above all, the art of collaboration, even with the most modest players.
To conclude this learning expedition, we had the opportunity to visit Le Village by CA Centre France, a key player in supporting start-ups. This network, the leading private accelerator in France, has supported over 3,000 start-ups in the past ten years.
Discussions with the entrepreneurs hosted within this ecosystem shed light on the specific challenges of collaboration between large corporations and start-ups, particularly:
- The difference in pace between the two types of structures.
- The weight of corporate regulations, which can hinder agility.
- Trust, essential for building strong and lasting partnerships.
Le Village by CA perfectly embodies the motto: « Cooperate to Innovate », offering diagnostics, tailored support, networking opportunities, and collaborative workshops.
This experience reminded us that innovation is not just about big ideas, but about the ability to build together, leveraging the diversity of stakeholders to create a collective momentum. A powerful illustration that the future is shaped through sharing, trust, and mutual learning.