News > 2018 > IEBN entrepreneurs to benefit from exchanges with France

IEBN entrepreneurs to benefit from exchanges with France

March 13, 2018

The Institut d’entrepreneuriat Banque Nationale – HEC Montréal (IEBN) has finalized a series of agreements with leading entrepreneurship promoters in France. The agreements were signed or announced in Paris during the economic mission to France led by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, from March 5 to 8.

Partnership with Ubisoft

Quebec and French companies with high growth potential in video gaming and electronic entertainment will be able to benefit from a partnership agreement between the IEBN and Ubisoft, the French giant in creating, publishing and distributing video games and interactive services.

Young digital firms in Quebec that receive the support of both partners will be able to join a coaching program specially designed for startups in the gaming and entertainment sector, managed by Ubisoft at Station F. Described as the world’s biggest startup campus, Station F opened in Paris in June 2017.

At the same time, young French entrepreneurs from the Ubisoft program at Station F will be able to take advantage of a landing pad at HEC Montréal. There they’ll receive IEBN support to help them optimize their commercial development potential and enter the Quebec, Canadian and North American markets.

Alliances with Blue Factory and Paris&Co

The Accélérateur program of the National Bank – HEC Montréal entrepreneurship institute (IEBN) also signed an agreement with Blue Factory, the incubator at the ESCP Europe business school. The two parties agreed to collaborate on supporting the entrepreneurs in their respective programs, by giving them reciprocal access to their premises and business networks.

A similar agreement was reached between the National Bank – HEC Montréal accelerator program and Paris&Co, the city’s economic development and innovation agency. Once again, firms supported by the two organizations will have access to premises and landing pads.

Scholarships for student entrepreneurs

The trade mission was also an opportunity to announce agreements with some financial partners, to provide scholarships for entrepreneurs from the Accélérateur program.

The Paris office of the National Bank of Canada will be awarding $5,000 scholarships to two HEC Montréal students who intend to launch businesses in France and on the European market after completing the Accélérateur program.

HEC Montréal and Canadian NPO Mitacs also announced scholarships for Quebec startups looking for internships in incubators abroad. Four $5,000 scholarships, two of them funded by Mitacs and two by HEC Montréal, will help to cover the expenses of four business representatives during internships lasting 4 to 16 weeks.