Combining academic knowledge with practical, real-life business challenges is key to the future success of our students. Therefore, the Global Entrepreneurship Program includes business projects for a sponsor company.

The Business Project is a key module in each region of study. Students will work on a real project for a company in France, in China and in the US.

Working on these Business Projects helps students to:

• Gain first-hand experience of turning an idea into a tangible project – while benefiting from the comfort of supporting structure,
• Learn intercultural skills, navigate different business and cultural environments,
• Work on different stages of a company’s development,
• Build a network.

In France, the projects deal mainly with start-up companies as the focus of the 1st semester at EMLYON Business School is “Launching a company”.

At Zhejiang University (China), the focus of the 2nd semester is “Exiting a company & Managing a family business” and thus company projects are in line with this theme.

At Purdue University in the US, the last semester focuses on “Company Growth”. Therefore, business projects are more oriented towards existing companies wishing to grow and extend their business.

Testimonial:

“The consulting projects we realized during the program were described like the core of the program. I totally agree. I experienced them like a kind of escape of the “classical” lectures. All three projects were a place where I could give a personal touch to my work. There was only one general guideline which was the end result of the project. The way you achieve your work is completely up to you.

The projects and the team work has taught me to keep my mind open. There is an answer to every question and a solution to every problem (although it might not be the best one). The beauty of the program is that it shows that to every problem or question there are several answers and solutions.”

Sander Groot
Global Entrepreneurship Program Student 2010- 2011

Typical projects include:

• Foreign Market Entry Strategy
• Opportunity Assessment and Business Plan
• Competitive / Market Intelligence
• Distribution Strategy
• Product / Service Innovation

Some example of projects students have worked on during 2011 in Europe, Asia, and the United States:

• Business plan focused on geographic market entry for a travel website aimed at 18-35 year olds
• Opportunity assessment and business plan for a company developing iPhone applications
• Foreign market entry plan for a company offering green construction solution. Company founded by a former International MBA (EMLYON’s MBA) students.
• Business expansion plan for a road construction material recycling company 
• Foreign market entry plan for a concept store /restaurant
• Foreign market entry plan for a search engine optimisation company
• Development of a business plan to identify new business models
• Market expansion plan, including resource, logistic and operational requirements for a company providing online marketing and advertising service for professionals and small businesses
• Creation of an integrated brand cooperation and marketing strategy of a company that develops and produces switchgear as well as other electric-related equipment. Particular challenges that had to be faced included differentiation of customers, limiting customer switch rates and diversification of the services offering.
• The development and promotion of LED lighting in China: In the context of growing shortage of worldwide energy, LED lighting has an inestimable prospect with its performance of energy saving. In recent years, as the rapidly developing of LED industry, the use of LED lighting will undoubtedly be promoted further and deeply throughout China. The LED producer also seeks to extend the industrial chain and accelerate the development of the enterprise.