The Pépite Prize and the Starthèse Challenge: student entrepreneurship and the promotion of research take centre stage in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

On 4 November 2026, the Dijon campus will host an event dedicated to entrepreneurship and innovation stemming from higher education and research, through the Pépite Prize and the Starthèse Challenge.

Organised annually by the PUI BFC and Pépite BFC, under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space, these two schemes help to foster innovative projects in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and encourage the development of new entrepreneurial initiatives

The Pépite Prize supports students and recent graduates who wish to bring a business start-up project to fruition. It recognises their spirit of initiative and contributes to the development of student entrepreneurship.
The Starthèse Challenge is aimed at young researchers keen to explore the entrepreneurial potential of their scientific work. It raises their awareness of the commercialisation of research and the possibilities for transferring knowledge and innovations to the socio-economic sphere.
These two complementary schemes help to bridge the gap between higher education, research and business. They thus contribute to the dynamism of the regional innovation ecosystem and to the transformation of scientific ideas and findings into concrete projects.

Practical information

• Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026
• Venue: Dijon campus, AAFE centre, Eicher lecture theatre, Montmuzard campus, 21000 Dijon
• Programme:
  • 5.00 pm: Welcome
  • 5.30 pm: Opening address
  • 5.45 pm: Awards ceremony
  • 6.30 pm: Cocktail reception

Registration required: https://enquetes.univ-fcomte.fr/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=438967&lang=fr
For further information: https://linktr.ee/PepiteBFC