Incubator Test bench(s)

Candidates may include :

• graduates of architecture schools, whatever their degree, age or previous status;
• who have recently set up (less than 5 years), or are about to set up, an independent, entrepreneurial business;
• alone or together (with their [future] associates who may or may not be ENSA graduates);
• related to architecture in the broadest sense of the term: architecture, landscape, urban planning, scenography, design, project management, etc.

Priority will be given to candidates who can demonstrate :

• their commitment: of whatever kind, in their professional practice, whether ecological, social and solidarity-based, technical, etc., or towards a territory, its inhabitants, or the ethics and values that give meaning to this commitment;
• the singularity of their activity, or of the way in which they practice project management and design, in the spirit of ENSA Paris-La Villette, which has always been a school open to experimentation and diversity of activities;
• Motivation: candidates should describe the current status of their business project (possibly an activity already tested in another setting) and clearly express their expectations of the incubator.

The applications selected will be those that best match their expectations with the proposed educational program.

Each year, a maximum of 20 companies or company projects will be selected.

Each company may be represented by one or more people, but at least one member must be present at the monthly meetings.

APPLICATION FORM

The application must include the following three files (in PDF format):

1. Administrative file

Record format: 01_name of applicant or agency_dossieradmin.pdf

• Application form (Personal information) completed ;
• Copies of the IDs of the partners in the applicant company or the ID of the individual applicant;
• Curriculum Vitae of the partners of the applicant company or of the individual applicant;
• Copies of diplomas (architect’s diploma and any additional diplomas or qualifications) of partners in the applicant company or of the individual applicant;
• For companies already established: Kbis extract (or equivalent: SIREN, RSEIRL registration, etc.), certificate of registration with the Order and insurance certificate (if applicable);
• For companies in the process of being set up: draft articles of association and/or business plan.

 

2. Motivation and objectives

Record format: 02_nom du candidat ou de l’agence_motivation.pdf

A text in PDF format presenting the motivation of the applicant company (or individual candidate) to join the ENSA Paris-la Villette incubator. The text should specify how long the company has been in business (or the stage of the business creation project) and the objectives for the incubation year. Particular attention will be paid to the company’s commitment (environmental, social, technical, etc.).
  

3. Portfolio of work

Record format: 03_name of candidate or agency_works.pdf

A PDF file presenting the candidate company and its references (or the individual candidate and his or her references). For each project presented, specify the candidate’s role and whether or not it is a project designed in the candidate’s own name.
  

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted on the Taïga platform:
https://taiga.archi.fr/taiga/cnd/
(active link from October 1, 2025)

Banc d’essai(s) is at once a time, a space and a collective. It is made up of experienced professionals and experts in their field, as well as young incubated entrepreneurs.

There are two types of speakers:
– Experts: professionals from business sectors specific to entrepreneurship, who speak in their own area of expertise (law, commerce, communication, human resources, etc.).
– Referents: ENSAPLV alumni from different backgrounds, who support entrepreneurial projects by sharing their experience.

Incubation takes place over nine consecutive two-day sessions from February to November at the ENSAPLV – Ardennes site.

The incubator program focuses on three key areas: creating, managing and developing a business. This is achieved through monthly meetings featuring workshops with expert speakers and alumni-referents, as well as exchange workshops between incubatees.

Incubation takes place over the course of 2026, in nine consecutive one-and-a-half-day sessions, from February to November, at ENSA Paris-la Villette – site des Ardennes, 23 rue des Ardennes, Paris 19e.

Group sessions will take place face-to-face, while some workshops or individual consultations may be held by video.

During the monthly sessions, incubatees will be accompanied by lawyers (Johanna Heron / Jaberson Avocats), chartered accountants (Philippe Szafir and Cédric Bastien / Avexxens), communications consultants (Giovanna Carrer / GIOCA) and organization and strategy consultants (Sophie Szpirglas / METHODUS). They will meet with local players (project owners, ecomaterials and circular economy sectors), and benefit from offers from our partners (Syndicat de l’Architecture, M2BPO…). The final program for the incubation year will be tailored to the needs of the selected companies.