As part of their commitment to bridging academic knowledge with real-world industry practices, students from the ESCP Business School had the opportunity to participate in two high-impact learning expeditions organized by the IoT Chair, supported by Schneider Electric. These immersive experiences, held in Grenoble and Le Vaudreuil, offered a deep dive into the company’s bold vision for sustainable innovation, digital transformation, and agile development.
Grenoble: Immersion in Innovation and Sustainability
On March 27 and 28, the first learning expedition took place in Grenoble, where students discovered IntenCity, Schneider Electric’s flagship building exemplifying the “Buildings of the Future”: fully digital, sustainable, and people-centric. The visit kicked off with an alumni roundtable featuring four former ESCP students, now Schneider Electric professionals, who shared career insights and the company’s strategic priorities:
- Tewfik Meftah, Innovation owner Prosumer
- Sarah Fontaine, Power Systems Marketing Director
- Vincent Le Grand, Data Global Chapter Leader
- Michael Fossat, Future Ready Program VP
In the afternoon, students engaged in the RISE Serious Game at the Innovation Square, a powerful experiential workshop that placed them in the shoes of global communities grappling with the real-world consequences of climate change. Using immersive tools, scientific data, and multimedia storytelling, students collaborated on sustainable solutions for regions like Kenya, Nepal, and Peru.
The day concluded with a site tour of IntenCity and a live demonstration of Schneider’s building management systems, showcasing how digital tools optimize energy performance.
The second day was dedicated to innovation at scale. Students explored Electropole and Technopole, Schneider’s R&D centers for low and medium voltage technologies. Sessions on agile project management, decarbonization strategies, and customer-centric support highlighted how Schneider Electric is rethinking its value proposition, from product manufacturing to service-based models.
La Vaudreuil: Smart Factory of the Future
On April 1, students visited Schneider Electric’s La Vaudreuil site, a World Economic Forum-recognized “Sustainability Lighthouse.” This smart factory stands at the forefront of industrial innovation, integrating cutting-edge technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), AI, augmented reality, and predictive maintenance.
Through hands-on demonstrations, students witnessed how digital tools contribute to measurable improvements in sustainability: 25% energy optimization, 17% reduction in material waste, and 25% cut in CO₂ emissions. The site’s innovations are a tangible example of Schneider Electric’s ambitious target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2025.
Beyond technology, both expeditions provided broader insights into Schneider Electric’s transformation journey, driven by digitization, internal innovation, agile methodologies, and a user-centric design approach. Students left with a deeper understanding of how these principles intersect to support sustainable growth, and a renewed awareness of the importance of cultural fit and values alignment in future career choices.
Through these expeditions, the IoT Chair continues to foster learning experiences that inspire the next generation of responsible, tech-savvy leaders.
Campuses