Innovation
The Epitech baseline sums it up in one sentence: “The future of IT, the best of innovation.” The two are closely linked, and our students learn every day, in a concrete way, how their skills can serve innovation and society at large. We help them, through providing the right tools and a curriculum around innovation.
The Epitech Innovation Hub
The Epitech Innovation Hub is a place open to all, dedicated to experimentation, prototyping and the development of innovative projects. It promotes interactions between players in digital innovation, businesses, and students. All are therefore made aware of the creative energy of the school, and the hub allows them to meet each other, work together and forge partnerships. It constitutes a gateway to professional life, and allows students to be advised and supported in the development of their projects, and if necessary, to launch strategic collaborations.
Finally, from an operational point of view, the Epitech Innovation Hub is also a place where cutting-edge equipment is made available to students : 3D printer, Google Glass, Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, etc. Innovative tools which facilitate the emergence of future-orientated projects.
The innovation cycle
The innovation cycle takes place over 3 years, from the third to the fifth year of the Epitech 5-year course. Its objective is to develop a project, whether it be expertise or technology based, and is structured in three stages : the idea and positioning, prototyping and feedback, and finally industrialization and marketing.
During this cycle, students are immersed in a national and international ecosystem that feeds their open-mindedness and inspiration.
Moonshot – Head full of ideas, feet on the ground
This first phase of the innovation cycle begins at the start of the third year with numerous conferences given by the best experts in different fields.
Far beyond computer skills, the Moonshot’s goal is to introduce students to the challenges ahead and awaken their curiosity in the world around them. The covered themes are transverse and varied : health, ecology, transport, energy, retail, media, finance, etc.
These are all areas that present problems and opportunities simultaneously, brought about by the advent of digital technologies.
Forward – Entrepreneurial creativity
Once the idea is in hand, the goal for the student is now the prototyping and validation of the latter. As its name suggests, Forward intervenes to allow the project leader to move forward, and it constitutes the second highlight of the third year of the Epitech course.
Its objective is twofold : Acclimatize students to entrepreneurial creativity through conferences led by professionals. Transform the idea into a prototype, and enrich the bootstrap so that it leads to the final year project : the Epitech Innovative Project (EIP)
Helped by professionals, entrepreneurs and coaches from all fields, the students challenge their EIP in order to develop a prototype. These professionals validate the usefulness and the viability of the project, and whether or not to pivot in order to accomplish it.
The Epitech Innovative Projects
This last phase concerns the industrialization and commercialization of the project and constitutes the most complex of the innovation cycle. While the students carry out their third-year internship, and are preparing to go abroad for their fourth year ; they must also transform their prototype into a project or product, or why not even into a business.
More than 100 Epitech Innovative Projects are presented each year during the Epitech Experience forum, the last highlight of the fifth year and an authentic summary of the Epitech learning experience. Students come to defend the outcome of their project in front of an ecosystem of entrepreneurs, decision makers and investors. Ending on a high note : much more than a project, a successful start in the workforce thanks to two years of teamwork.
