Presenting the call for projects

The objective of this call for projects, launched at the initiative of the EDHEC Alumni Board of Trustees, is to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship and come up with tangible, original and innovative solutions (digital, technical, technological, organizational or involving mobilisation tools) that can be rolled out in the form of entrepreneurial projects or committed action through associations. 

The ambition behind it is to ensure that each year EDHEC Alumni can present an initiative with a social and societal impact (e.g. social & solidarity economy) which the school will then be able to accelerate and reproduce, offering sponsorship and financing and serving as an echo chamber. Under no circumstances can this be seen as a call for start-ups.

To conduct the call for projects, it plans to lean on (all) the EDHEC clubs serving as a conveyor belt to get alumni involved.

Preselected projects will be able to take part in an annual event organised at the initiative of EDHEC Alumni and benefit from increased visibility. At this event, one project will be highlighted and receive an award, benefiting from support over a two-year period, similar to the incubator model.

The theme chosen for this year’s projects is “Diversity & Inclusion”.

Project proposals must involve digital, technical, technological or organizational solutions or mobilisation tools.

These projects must be inclusive, egalitarian and sustainable in social terms. 

Projects must ensure a central role for young people, particularly as a resource in the project design.

How to apply 

- Complete the online application form before 30 November 2022.

The project details must be laid out in an online form along with an overview presented in the required format. 

This presentation must include:

• A financial projection detailing estimates of costs and revenue over a three-year period and indicating sources of financing. It should be noted that EDHEC Alumni’s contribution is limited to €10,000 per project
• Figures for the project’s targeted impact complete with key performance indicators

Applications can be drafted in French or English.

What are the admissibility criteria? 

Given that dissemination is an integral part of participating in this call for projects, to be admissible candidates must agree to their application being disseminated. Project proposals must also meet the following criteria:

• Adherence to EDHEC’s values
• Spin-offs as an objective (EDHEC community and beyond)
• Project driven collectively (and not by “individuals”)
• Project targeting a positive social and societal impact
• Project capable of being rolled out by others
• Possibility to develop project notoriety for the EDHEC Alumni community

What are the selection criteria?

Each project will be evaluated based on the SMART framework

Specific: reaches out to a well-defined target with social and societal impact

Measurable: project’s impact must be measurable using KPIs 

Acceptable: adherence to EDHEC values

Realistic: project with tangible impact on everyday life 

Time-related: possible implementation in one year with results the following year 

The final jury will take the following into account: 

• Project consistency with objective 
• Benefit and positive societal impact 
• Innovative/creative nature of the project: its innovation can stem from its novelty or the significant improvement of an existing approach/system 
• Technical, practical and budgetary feasibility 
• Reproducibility and potential for spin-offs 
• Motivation for project implementation 

Additional criteria may also be considered:

• Gender diversity will be considered and parity is encouraged as much as possible 
• Intercultural groups are encouraged 
• Diversity of profiles 
• Level of intervention and impact 
• The multidimensional nature of the proposed solution (project addressing several social and environmental issues) 

What’s the timetable for this call for projects?

Applications are open from 25 October to 30 November 2022.

Projects will be selected on 15 December.  

Tuesday 15 November from 12:30 to 1:30pm: Q&A session. 

> Discussions with project team to better understand the selection process and explain the call for projects. 

Early 2023: event with awards ceremony involving winner(s). 

If you have any questions, please contact Adeline REGENT, Alumni Relations Manager: adeline.regent@edhec.edu