Deeptech in textile innovation: the entrepreneurial journey of Marion Négrier, post-doctoral student at Mines Paris – PSL and winner of BPIFrance’s iPhD innovation competition.

Ecological transition Entrepreneurship Portrait
Published on 9 October 2024
In 2019, the State launched the DeepTech Plan, operated by the Banque Publique d’Investissement, with the aim of making France a major player in disruptive innovation in the face of major contemporary challenges such as the energy transition, climate, health and cybersecurity. The France 2030 investment plan, launched three years ago, strengthens the resources allocated by the French government and boosts the ecosystem. In 2023 alone, 340 deeptech startups were created.
 

Marion Négrier, a doctorate in materials from Mines Paris – PSL and winner of BPIFrance’siPhD innovation competition, embodies the new generation of scientist-entrepreneurs propelled by this Deeptech Plan. The program enabled her to transform her research into recycling textile waste into an ambitious entrepreneurial project. Thanks to her passage through the School’s “Deeptech Entrepreneurship and Innovation” Specialized Master’s program, she is now well on the way to transforming the sustainable fashion and eco-responsible decoration sector.


Wim Van Wassenhove, Academic Director of the MS Entrepreneuriat DeepTech et Innovation, sees the classes growing since 2021. Initially, this 18-month work-study course was aimed at people aged between 45 and 50 looking for a career change, but it has now grown to include a wide range of ages and objectives.


Wim met Marion Négrier at the Mines Paris Research Day held in Versailles in 2022. She was in her second year of a PhD at the Centre de Mise en forme des matériaux (CEMEF). Her research topic was the development of materials from textile waste.



I sensed that this training would provide me with the necessary perspectives to develop my research work. Particularly through entrepreneurship, but I didn’t know how to go about it.


Marion Négrier



Wim replied that it was too soon: “ Come and see me in two years’ time ”. And the bet paid off. Marion returns two years later, PhD in hand, registration file in hand, winner of PSL Valorisation’s call for premature projects. And with more precise ideas about her project.

She has become an expert in her field, but she still needs to find the institutional players and formalize a project in development. “ This training course enabled me to meet the various people involved in the business creation process, such as the Provence Côte d’Azur incubator. And the project took off. She was approached by the Deeptech Tour in June 2024 to take part in the third edition in Paris.


She explains: “The next step will be to convince collaborators and investors to embark on this venture with me, and to present my research to fashion and interior designers ”. Indeed, her scientific research into the recycling of textile waste means that fashion and decorative accessories can be made from biosourced, recycled and recyclable materials.


Wim then asks the burning question: “ Did the Mastère Spécialisé really help you in this project? ” She replies: “Absolutely ”. Duly noted.




About the Institut des Hautes Etudes Pour l’Innovation et l’Entrepreneuriat (IHEIE)


The IHEIE of Mines Paris – PSL is launching its first class of the “Deeptech Entrepreneur” Specialized Master’s program in 2018, resulting in the creation of the start-up Sublime Énergie.

After the health crisis, the Mastère Spécialisé returns slightly modified as Mastère Spécialisé “Entrepreneuriat Deeptech et Innovation” (MS EDI).


Wim Van Wassenhove, Director of MS Entrepreneurship DeepTech and Innovation

“This expert training program, accredited by the CGE and since 2024 registered with the RNCP, is enjoying growing success, as is the number of students per class. 36 students for the start of the 2024 academic year. Among other things, the MS Deeptech supports PhDs in developing an entrepreneurial project based on their research results.”

Find out more about MS EDI

Find out more about IHEIE

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