Do you have an idea, an entrepreneurial project, or simply want to discover the world of innovation? This article brings together the support schemes, events and opportunities available to students, PhD students, researchers and faculty members at Centrale Lille.
A number of contacts are available to train, support and guide you throughout your entrepreneurial journey.
👉 Discover the entrepreneurship opportunities at Centrale Lille
📅 Upcoming events not to be missed
FAVI – Innovation and Valorisation Support Fund
📌 Until October 9, 2026 at 12:00 noon
Application deadline.
📌 October 13, 2026
FAVI committee presentation.
The FAVI offers two schemes: one for students, which can provide funding of up to €5,000 including VAT, and another for researchers, PhD students and faculty members.
For student applicants, the committee presentation consists of a 10-minute pitch, followed by a discussion with the committee members.
👉 Access the information and application form
SNEE – National Student-Entrepreneur Status
📌 October 1, 2026
Next SNEE committee.
The dates of upcoming committees will be announced on the PÉPITE platform.
👉 Find out more and register on Pépitizy
Bpifrance – 24 Hours to Create
📌 November 20 and 21, 2026 – Arras
Two days to imagine, develop and challenge an entrepreneurial project.
👉 Find out more about the event
Other upcoming events
Some dates will be announced soon, including:
- the Pépite de la MEL;
- the MEL Opportunities Day;
- the Startonic Weekend.
🎓 National Student-Entrepreneur Status (SNEE)
The National Student-Entrepreneur Status (SNEE) enables students to receive support from PÉPITE – Student Centre for Innovation, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship as part of their entrepreneurial project.
Why apply for SNEE?
The status provides access to:
- support tailored to your project;
- mentors and experts;
- certain resources and facilities;
- a network of student entrepreneurs and alumni;
- thematic support programmes;
- opportunities to highlight your entrepreneurial experience.
Under certain conditions, and following discussion with their internal school, the status may also allow students to replace an internship with work dedicated to their entrepreneurial project.
📌 Upcoming SNEE committees
The next committee is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Other committees are scheduled throughout the year. Registration procedures and deadlines are available on the PÉPITE platform.
👉 Check the dates and register on Pépitizy
🚀 PÉPITE: Discover, Test and Develop Your Project
Throughout the year, PÉPITE offers events for students who want to discover entrepreneurship or develop their skills.
Thematic webinars
🕐 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
- October 15, 2026 – Entrepreneurship: A Practical Guide
- November 26, 2026 – Creating Sustainable Impact Through Your Project
- January 21, 2027 – Overcoming Barriers to Entrepreneurship
- February 11, 2027 – Start-ups: Innovate, Test and Incubate
- March 25, 2027 – Financing Solutions for Starting a Business
- April 15, 2027 – Starting a Micro-Business
- May 20, 2027 – Partnering Up to Launch a Business
Afterworks
🕡 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
- November 18, 2026 – Alumni: What Have They Been Up To?
- March 11, 2027 – Elles’Innov: An Evening for Inspiration
- March 24, 2027 – Women Entrepreneurs: Creating with Impact
Hackathon
📅 November 4 and 5, 2026 | 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Two days dedicated to creativity, meeting entrepreneurs and a fun introduction to the circular economy.
Workshop
📅 March 17 and 18, 2027 | 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Discover tools to develop your creativity.
Speed Meeting
📅 April 8 | 2:30 p.m.–6 p.m.
An opportunity to meet and exchange with entrepreneurs from the region.
📲 All PÉPITE Opportunities
Find all the events in the entrepreneurial ecosystem on the PÉPITE agenda.
The platform provides access to the various events and opportunities offered throughout the year, including competitions, opportunities days, PÉPITE markets and more.
💡 Pépite de la MEL
The Pépite de la MEL is open to students holding SNEE status or students who will soon obtain this status.
The event aims to promote and support local talent through crowdfunding.
It enables participants to:
- raise funds;
- test their market with a product or service;
- develop and build an engaged community.
📌 Upcoming steps
The dates for the different stages will be announced soon:
- closing date for applications;
- pre-selection jury;
- final selection jury.
🤝 MEL Opportunities Day
The MEL Opportunities Day brings together the various stakeholders involved in entrepreneurship: project leaders, stands, games and pitch competitions.
An opportunity to discover, learn, exchange and build your network.
📌 Date to be announced
⚡ Startonic Weekend
The Startonic Weekend brings together students from Centrale Lille Institut and SKEMA Business School, in partnership with student associations involved in entrepreneurship.
The programme includes:
- project leaders selected from both schools;
- students with complementary skills to challenge and help develop the projects;
- coaching;
- a final jury;
- exchanges and constructive feedback.
A creative, collaborative experience designed to help develop an entrepreneurial project over a weekend.
📌 The programme and registration details will be announced soon.
👩💼 Women in Entrepreneurship
PÉPITE places particular emphasis on women in entrepreneurship and the skills developed by student entrepreneurs.
Several events and programmes provide opportunities to discover entrepreneurial journeys, meet women entrepreneurs and develop projects in an environment conducive to exchange and collaboration.
WILLA BOOST
WILLA BOOST is a two-month programme offered by the PÉPITE partner.
It is aimed in particular at women who:
- are in a vulnerable situation;
- receive RSA benefits or are scholarship students;
- live in a priority neighbourhood (QPV);
- are immigrants or refugees;
- have a disability;
- have an idea or project for starting a business;
- want to be challenged by female experts;
- want to discover what being an entrepreneur is like and join a community of women entrepreneurs.
👉 Discover the WILLA BOOST programme
🌱 Events from Our Partners
Eurasanté – Inspir’Action Entrepreneuriale
Inspir’Action Entrepreneuriale is an event designed to provide particular support to women in their entrepreneurial journey.
Over three days, participants are invited to discover entrepreneurship and reflect on an essential question: “Is entrepreneurship right for me?”
👉 Discover Inspir’Action Entrepreneuriale
💶 Funding Your Project: FAVI
The Fonds d’Aide aux Actions d’Innovation et de Valorisation (FAVI) offers two schemes:
🎓 For students
A scheme that can provide funding of up to €5,000 including VAT.
🔬 For researchers, PhD students and faculty members
A dedicated scheme is also available to support innovation and valorisation projects.
📅 Key dates
October 9, 2026 at 12:00 noon
Application deadline.
October 13, 2026
FAVI committee presentation.
For candidates required to attend the oral presentation, the session consists of a 10-minute pitch, followed by questions from the committee.
👉 All information and application form
🔬 Developing a tech or deeptech project with a research laboratory?
For any tech or deeptech project linked to a research laboratory, you can contact:
📧 direction.innovation@centralelille.fr
Information sessions will also be organised in each school to present the available schemes.
📢 Information Sessions Coming Soon
Information sessions on entrepreneurship and FAVI will be scheduled soon.
Dates will be communicated via the campus screens and the “Point Actu” newsletter.
🧭 Need Support?
Whether your project is still at the idea stage or already well advanced, several schemes can support you throughout your entrepreneurial journey.
Student, PhD student, researcher or faculty member: identify the scheme that best suits your project and make the most of the resources available through Centrale Lille and its ecosystem.
👉 Discover entrepreneurship opportunities at Centrale Lille
📌 A dedicated contact in each school
A dedicated entrepreneurship information display will be installed in each school to make it easier to identify the relevant contacts and available resources.
PhD students
The entrepreneurship support offered to students is also open to PhD students.
💡 An idea? A project? Thinking about entrepreneurship?
Centrale Lille and its partners offer a wide range of schemes to help you turn an idea into a concrete project.
