Day 2 of the SIM International School took place at University of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, 12 place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris, in surroundings steeped in academic tradition and civic purpose. The University has stood for centuries as a place where scholarship meets public life, where ideas are tested through dialogue and where learning is inseparable from social responsibility. With its view across the Panthéon, the venue offered the perfect backdrop for another day of insight, exchange and collaboration.
The morning opened with a new series of project pitches from the second group of SIM participants, each presenting business models developed through the national training programmes. The range of ideas once again showed the strength and adaptability of the Social Impact Manager profile.
From France, Recognising Commitment, Amplifying Impact: The TE and IP Label examined how recognition systems can reward authentic social engagement. From Italy, Aligning Values with Action explored how Epson is embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into its corporate strategy. From Greece, Sustainability of Castle Towns and Traditional Settlements addressed the challenges of climate adaptation and heritage preservation. From Croatia, Trust Your Eyes continued the focus on eye health and community well-being. A second French initiative, Turning Unemployment into Opportunity, showed how local partnerships can mobilise networks for inclusive employment. From Austria, FEM Med introduced new approaches to strengthening collaboration between medical professionals and social impact projects.
The afternoon featured two thought-provoking roundtables that connected corporate practice with territorial innovation.
Roundtable 1, Driving Business Innovation and Growth through Social Territorial Projects, was moderated by François Rouvier, Founder and Director of Le Chêne Conseil. Contributors included Cesare De Palma (De Palma Thermofluid, Italy), Ivan Prudky (DIP Society for Research and Support, Czech Republic), Aris Tufexis (University of Milan-Bicocca, Italy) and Nenad Vretenar (University of Rijeka, Croatia). Together they explored how companies, guided by Social Impact Managers, can design and scale projects that strengthen local anchoring and generate measurable value for communities.
Roundtable 2, Strategic Partnerships and Channel Management: Enhancing Social Impact through Collaboration, was moderated by Yann Ulliac, former Director of the Partnerships Observatory at Le Rameau. Panel members included Charles-Benoît Heidsieck (President-Founder, Le Rameau), Hrvoje Katunar (EFRI, Croatia), Peter Marckhgott (die Berater, Austria), Marina Stanojevic Vecerina (Jadran Galenski Laboratory, Croatia) and Konstantinos Styliaras (SBE, Greece). The discussion focused on how strong alliances and coordinated partnerships can amplify social innovation while maintaining long-term business sustainability.
The day ended with a group cruise on the Seine, an unforgettable evening of conversation and connection with the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. It was a fitting close to a day that captured the European spirit of curiosity, collaboration and social responsibility.
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