Philippe Watteau: "The Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation will enable us to streamline the entire valorization process"

What role does SATT Lutech play in the innovation process at Sorbonne University?

Philippe Watteau : Within the framework of the University Innovation Cluster (PUI), SATT Lutech acts as a catalyst in advancing projects emerging from research laboratories. The Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation will allow us to integrate our actions into a cohesive vision of the innovation chain.

We will be in direct contact with upstream actors of maturation, such as the university's research valorization departments and Sorbonne University's Modeling, Engineering, and Technology House (SUMMIT). Downstream, we will be on-site with the Agoranov incubator and the business hotel. This proximity will enable us to facilitate the entire valorization process, from initial research to the creation of startups.

How do you envision collaboration with other entities within the Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation?

P. W. : The Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation represents a unique ecosystem where the university's valorization strategy can be fully deployed. Being on-site will intensify interactions between our teams and enhance the efficiency of exchanges.

Within the Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation, our respective teams will interact and draw inspiration directly from incubated startups, enriching our collective capacity to propose effective business creation models. Additionally, Pépite plays a key role by harnessing the potential of students with entrepreneurial projects. On-site, we can regularly organize presentations with them to spark interest within the student community to embark on entrepreneurial ventures.

What services will you offer within the Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation?

P. W. : Our service offerings are designed to meet the specific needs of institutions and project leaders.

For institutions requiring rapid expertise, we offer support that includes anticipating transfer modalities and clauses within the context of research collaborations. We also provide personalized assistance throughout the technology transfer process.

For those needing a licensing strategy, we help define their approach, from intellectual property protection to developing a suitable licensing model.

Finally, for support up to startup creation, in addition to maturation services, we conduct market and startup positioning studies. We also facilitate connections with investors, incubators, and industry partners, while mobilizing various support and funding mechanisms.

How will you leverage the Alliance's laboratories to promote innovation within the Cité?

P. W. : SATT Lutech already has a mission to scout laboratories to encourage them to take a step further towards innovation and to support them in this endeavor. We will play a significant role in welcoming and educating researchers who wish to valorize their work, whether in sciences, technologies, or humanities and social sciences.

The presence of the Agoranov incubator, SUMMIT, and the business hotel within the Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation will make the innovation process more tangible, as our actions will be visible within this integrated innovation chain. It will allow us to increase the visibility of our projects.

Will SATT Lutech contribute to the event programming of the Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation?

P. W. : Absolutely. The Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation will be a powerful attractor for all audiences: students, researchers, companies, and even public authorities and local communities. We plan to get involved, along with other stakeholders, in initiatives such as a showroom to showcase projects and inspire a collective desire to innovate. Certain thematic areas can be highlighted periodically, depending on trending research fields.

As a unique venue where all actors of the innovation chain come together, the Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation has no equivalent in Paris. Its great strength lies in the multidisciplinarity offered by the Sorbonne University Alliance. Therefore, it is essential that the projects presented in the demonstration spaces reflect this diversity, with initiatives not only technological but also from socio-cultural domains.

The Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation will also be a valuable tool for gaining visibility, particularly among investors and industry players, or to attract the first partners of startups.

What are the short- and long-term objectives for SATT within the framework of its integration into the Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation?

P. W. :The goal is not to replicate existing models like Station F but to build upon the history and unique identity of the Sorbonne University Alliance to highlight an original innovation ecosystem. Our objectives include increasing our attractiveness, detecting and declaring inventions, and improving our transfer capabilities.

Thanks to the Sorbonne University Cité de l'Innovation, our projects will gain greater visibility in the socio-economic world, which should strengthen co-maturation efforts and the number of startup creations.