INNOVATION
CEMS PHILIPPE LOUVET INNOVATION GRANT 2026
The Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant celebrates the transformative power of innovation within the CEMS alliance Every two years, it provides resources and visibility to projects that challenge the status quo, strengthen our community, and prepare future leaders to think and act boldly.
What innovation could you bring to strengthen, transform or re-imagine the CEMS experience?
Key information at a glance
Funded by
Grant amount
€30,000 total funding
Who can apply
Open to all CEMS stakeholders
What to submit
1 application = 3 elements
1 online application form
1 short presentation (15 slides max)
1 short video (elevator pitch - 90 seconds max)
TIMELINE
Submission deadline: 15 September 2026
Jury selection: End of October 2026
How to submit
Send your complete application package via the online Application Form
Announcement: During the CEMS Annual Events in Seoul, End of November
WHAT IS THE PHILIPPE LOUVET GRANT?
The Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant supports innovative projects that strengthen the CEMS Alliance and create lasting value for its community It is designed for ideas that:
Challenge existing ways of thinking or working, Bring together different CEMS stakeholders, And contribute to a more open, sustainable, and inclusive world, in line with the CEMS values and vision
Supporting ideas at their early stage
Projects submitted to the Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant do not need to be implemented at the time of application. The grant is designed to support new and emerging initiatives. Teams are therefore encouraged to provide just enough information to allow the jury to assess the idea, its relevance for CEMS, and its potential impact.
Michael Kienle
Global VP Talent Acquisition
L’Oréal’s commitment and support of the CEMS alliance is built on strong common values ( ) That’s why the CEMS
Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant is a perfect illustration of our shared quest to develop and shape future generations of leaders by providing them with the skills, the mindset and the courage to question the status quo and to dare greatly.
L’Oréal
From selection to implementation
The Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant is based on a mutual commitment between the selected project team, CEMS, and is delivered through a two-phase funding process supporting the project over time.
Seed funding (at announcement)
Follow-up funding (after one year)
HOW TO
APPLICATION PACKAGE
A complete application for the CEMS Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant 2026 includes three mandatory and complementary elements.
One application = Three elements
02 A short video (elevator pitch) 03 A slide presentation A completed application form
The application form captures the structured and analytical dimensions of your project The elevatorpitch video and the presentation offer a more creative and expressive perspective, focused on the innovation itself, its benefits, and its potential impact Together, these elements offer different ways to tell the same story.
1. Application form: Structure your project
The online application is the foundation of your submission and the primary document used by the jury to assess your project
Core reference document for the jury
Assesses eligibility, relevance, feasibility and alignment with the selection criteria
Apply Now
Access the online Application Form
Good practice
The application form provides a clear starting point and main reference for your project Make sure all questions are addressed within the provided framework, as clear and concise responses help the jury assess how well your project meets the selection criteria
Curious to see the form before diving in?
Download the PDF Application Form preview
2. The project presentation: Make the potential visible
The presentation should help the jury quickly understand the scope and promise of your innovation. You may use it to:
Introduce your team
Illustrate the concept and how it works
Highlight the benefits for the CEMS Community
Show the expected impact and longer-term perspective
Include a timeline that demonstrates feasibility, scalability and sustainability
Present an initial budget outline explaining how the €30,000 grant would be allocated
Support your narrative with visuals, examples, or use cases
Maximum 15 slides (strict limit).
Free structure and visual style
Good practice
Clear roadmap, milestones and early scalability ideas strengthen your application
3. The Elevator Pitch Video: Bring your idea to life
The video is your opportunity to capture attention and create momentum Rather than explaining how the project will be implemented, focus on:
The core idea and what makes it innovative
The need or opportunity it addresses
The value it creates for the CEMS community
Why this project is worth supporting
Maximum length: 90 seconds
Delivered in a downloadable format
Any recording device is acceptable (including a smartphone)
No professional production required
Good practice
Keep it clear and authentic. Simple language and genuine conviction matter more than technical detail.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Applications must be submitted via the online Application Form.
Applicants are required to complete the form and provide:
A downloadable link to the project presentation.
A downloadable link to the project video.
All links must be accessible at the time of submission. An acknowledgement of receipt will be sent via email after submission.
For any questions, please contact: philippelouvetgrant@cems org
Submission deadline
Before sending, please make sure that:
All three elements are included
Files are clearly named and accessible as downloadable files
The presentation does not exceed 15 slides
The video does not exceed 90 seconds
September 2026
Timeline
HOW PROJECTS ARE EVALUATED EVALUATED
Projects are assessed through a transparent and structured process, combining clear eligibility requirements with a set of selection criteria applied by the jury
Eligibility criteria
The Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant is open to all CEMS stakeholders: Students, Alumni, Corporate and Social Partners, Academic Members (Faculty of CEMS member schools, CEMS Academic Directors, Programme Managers, Corporate Relation Managers etc.).
To be eligible, projects must:
Either include CEMS stakeholders from at least two CEMS member schools (strongly encouraged)
Or include at least two distinct CEMS stakeholder types, if team members are all from the same school (Students; Alumni; different roles of Academic members, and Corporate & Social Partners)
Be clearly anchored in the CEMS community
Be submitted as innovation projects (implementation is not required at the time of application)
Projects that do not meet these conditions will not be considered. The project may include a third party that has no link to CEMS.
Selection criteria
Eligible projects are assessed by the jury based on a clear and balanced set of criteria, taking into account the application form, presentation and video as a whole
In particular, the jury considers:
For detailed guidance on each criterion, please refer to the online application form, which provides further context and expectations.
The jury of the Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant is chaired by Prof. Andrea Sironi, a distinguished academic leader and long-standing contributor to the CEMS Alliance.
The jury brings together senior leaders representing the CEMS community, including experienced academics and institutional figures deeply engaged with CEMS’ mission and values. Together, they provide a high-level, strategic perspective, assessing projects based on their innovation, relevance for CEMS, and potential to create lasting impact across the Alliance.
FROM IDEAS TO IMPACT: PAST WINNING PROJECTS WINNING
Wondering what a winning project looks like in practice? Past Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant laureates illustrate how innovative ideas rooted in the CEMS community can grow into feasible, impactful and scalable initiatives, creating lasting value across the Alliance
2022: The Social Impact Program
In 2022, CEMS students, now alumni Damien Manhes (Esade & UAI) and Jan-Niklas Franke (ESADE & Cornell), together with another student and faculty support from ESADE University, received the Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant to launch the Social Impact Program (SIP) a bold initiative designed to turn CEMS students into hands-on changemakers
SIP enables CEMS students to gain real-world experience by working on pro-bono consulting projects with social enterprises. The goal: create tangible impact for communities while positioning CEMS as a force for positive global change. The idea
8 students have completed 5 impact projects across Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda
Partner organizations reported strong satisfaction and measurable value creation
Students described the program as careershaping and a highlight of their CEMS journey
The Social Impact Program continues to build momentum:
SIP is now partnering with Ashoka Africa, the global non-profit supporting leading social entrepreneurs
Two program alumni, together with the CEMS Student Board, are actively shaping the program ’ s next phase
The long-term vision is to expand participation across more CEMS schools, eventually offering it globally
Why is this project a good example?
The Social Impact Program is a clear example of what the Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant makes possible:
Turning a collaborative and student-led, innovative idea into a scalable, feasible, values-driven initiative
Empowering students to create a lasting impact beyond the classroom, ensuring the sustainability of the project
Strengthening CEMS’ commitment to responsible leadership and positive change
2024: Bridging the Humanitarian World to the International Management Context
In 2024, the CEMS Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant was awarded to a cross-generational team of students, alumni, and faculty from the University of St Gallen (HSG) for an innovative course that integrates humanitarian principles into international management education The project is led by CEMS student and now alumni,
Together with the CEMS HSG team,
The course “Bridging the Humanitarian World to the International Management Context” equips CEMS students with the knowledge, mindset, and tools to integrate humanitarian values into global business environments transforming how leadership is taught and practiced
Inspired by the students’ involvement in the Circle of Young Humanitarians (CYH) the only youthled initiative supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) the project seeks to replace helplessness with agency, awareness, and action
Impact so far
The team is piloting a new CEMS Block Seminar at the University of St. Gallen titled “Social Responsibility: Humanitarian Principles in the Corporate Context.” It explores how humanitarian principles such as neutrality and impartiality can inform decision-making in today’s complex business environment
The course bridges the humanitarian and corporate worlds, preparing students to lead ethically in complex, high-risk global contexts
A core element of the course, the Humanitarian Challenge, immerses students in hands-on, realworld scenarios:
Applying international humanitarian law (IHL) to business decisions
Navigating supply chains in conflict zones
Managing corporate responsibility during humanitarian crises
Addressing ethical dilemmas in global operations
After reviewing the application, the jury requires the project to expand to another CEMS school as a condition for receiving the grant which will be shared between the applicant (St Gallen) and another school This will enable the project to scale and support its implementation at the new partner school.
Why is this project a good example?
The course addresses a critical gap between the humanitarian sector and the business world and shows the depth of innovation. It is
Innovative
Reimagines management education by embedding humanitarian values directly into business leadership thus challenging the status quo
Feasible
Built on strong student, alumni, and faculty collaboration, with proven humanitarian partners including CYH and the ICRC.
Impactful
Strengthens the CEMS Alliance by equipping students with ethical judgment, global awareness, and realworld relevance
Piloted at HSG with a clear pathway to expansion across CEMS member schools
Scalable Sustainable
Designed as a curricular course, ensuring long-term impact beyond individual cohorts
Aligned with the CEMS Vision
Prepares responsible leaders contributing to a more open, sustainable, and inclusive world
PHILIPPE LOUVET: A LEGACY OF INNOVATION
AND COLLABORATION INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION
The CEMS Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant was created by L’Oréal and the CEMS Strategic Board in memory of Philippe Louvet, former Vice President Human Resources at L’Oréal and a deeply influential figure in the CEMS Alliance.
Innovation was chosen as the grant's core focus in recognition of Philippe’s visionary mindset and lasting contributions to CEMS. After engaging L’Oréal as a CEMS Corporate Partner in 1996, he helped shape the Alliance for over two decades, serving as Executive Board Member, Vice President, Corporate Relations, Strategic Board Member, and later Strategic Advisor
Philippe was a driving force behind many ground-breaking “firsts” within CEMS, from pioneering training programs for CEMS Managers to panEuropean multimedia cases and cross-school research initiatives Through these efforts, he played a key role in strengthening CEMS governance, corporate relations, and the very foundations of its Mission, Vision, and Strategy.
Beyond his professional achievements, Philippe was known for his passion for education and his unique ability to bridge academia and the corporate world, a belief shared by both CEMS and L’Oréal
Awarded CEMS Honorary Membership in 2013, Philippe Louvet’s legacy continues through this grant, which supports innovative initiatives that embody his values: collaboration, curiosity, and lasting impact.
Each project supported by the grant reflects the spirit Philippe stood for:
Curiosity, Courage, Collaboration, Innovation and Impact.
About our Corporate Partner L’Oreal
L'Oréal, one of CEMS’ most active and committed Corporate Partners, is among the oldest. It has consistently supported initiatives that strengthen the connection between academia and the business world. Through the 30,000 Euros Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant, L’Oréal continues to champion bold ideas that prepare responsible leaders and create lasting value for the CEMS community and beyond
CONTACT & FAQ FAQ
Need help or have a question?
If you have any questions regarding your application or the Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant, please contact:
philippelouvetgrant@cems.org
The CEMS Global Office will be happy to support you throughout the application process
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Philippe Louvet Innovation Grant?
The grant is open to all CEMS stakeholders, including students, alumni, academic members, and corporate or social partners, provided eligibility criteria are met External partners with no formal link to CEMS may be included, provided the project remains clearly anchored within the CEMS community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it mandatory for teams to include members from more than one CEMS member school?
No, this is not a strict eligibility requirement However, teams are strongly encouraged to include CEMS stakeholders from at least two CEMS member schools, as cross-school collaboration is central to the CEMS community If all team members come from the same CEMS member school, the team must include at least two distinct CEMS stakeholder types (e g students, alumni, academic members, corporate or social partners) In addition, the proposal should clearly demonstrate the project’s scalability and its potential to benefit the broader CEMS community beyond a single institution
How should the application be submitted?
Applications must be submitted via the online Application Form
Within the form, applicants will be required to:
1 Answer the application questions (covering both eligibility and selection criteria),
2 Provide a link to their project presentation (downloadable file),
3 Provide a link to their project video (downloadable file)
Please note that the selection criteria will be assessed based on both the answers provided in the form and the submitted presentation and video. All links must be accessible at the time of submission and comply with the submission guidelines. An acknowledgement of receipt will be automatically sent upon successful submission.
A PDF version of the Application Form is available for reference to help applicants prepare their submission Please note that this PDF is provided for preparation purposes only Applications must be submitted online via the Official Application Form
For any questions related to the application process, please contact: philippelouvetgrant@cems.org
Where can I find detailed guidance on the selection criteria?
Detailed expectations for each selection criterion are outlined in the application form, which serves as the reference framework for the jury