As we approach the end of an inspiring year, I am delighted to share the latest highlights from our vibrant research community. This edition reflects the depth and diversity of scholarly work at Paris School of Business - spanning groundbreaking publications, prestigious recognitions, and dynamic collaborations that continue to shape the future of management and beyond.

We celebrate exceptional achievements and publication of impactful studies in leading ABS- and FNEGE-ranked journals. These contributions reaffirm our commitment to rigorous, high-quality research that addresses pressing global challenges - from corporate governance and sustainability to innovation and technology.

Our faculty’s engagement in major international conferences and thought-leadership platforms underscores PSB’s growing influence within both academic and professional circles. Equally noteworthy are recent research grants, such as the Horizon Europe SORT4CIRC project, which exemplify our dedication to advancing knowledge with tangible societal impact.

I invite you to explore the rich array of initiatives featured in this newsletter - from habilitation and doctoral milestones to interdisciplinary projects, media contributions and strategic partnerships. Each story reflects the collective effort and shared passion that drive our research mission forward.

Happy reading!

Dr. Reza Zanjirani, Professor of Management at PSB Paris School of Business has been awarded a new research grant under the Horizon Europe programme, funded by the European Commission, for his role in the innovative SORT4CIRC project – Intelligent Textile Sorting to Enable Circularity.

This forward-looking initiative aims to revolutionize the textile industry by advancing automated sorting technologies and innovative recycling solutions, paving the way toward a truly circular economy. Coordinated by Constructor University Bremen GGMBH (Germany), the project brings together a dynamic consortium of industrial leaders, recyclers, technology innovators, and academic institutions from across Europe.

Professor Zanjirani leads the work package focused on circular business model design and life cycle cost-benefit analysis, with an emphasis on the operational viability and supply chain integration of textile sorting and reuse systems. His contribution reflects his interdisciplinary expertise in operations research, sustainability analytics, and strategic management.

The academic year opened with an engaging and insightful Afterwork event. Centered around the theme "Les nudges pour un numérique plus responsable : petits gestes, grands impacts?" (Nudges for a more responsible digitization: small actions, big impacts?) the rountable explored the role of nudges in shaping our digital behaviors - and their potential to drive large-scale transformation.

Organized in collaboration with Orange, Renaissance Numérique, and the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL), the discussion offered a cross-disciplinary perspective between researchers, professionals, and regulatory experts. 

Moderated by Dr. Andrea Guido, Professor of Management at Paris School of Business, the roundtable brought together a distinguished panel:

• Arnaud Brun, Researcher at Orange Innovation Campus

• Régis Chatellier, Innovation and Foresight Project Manager at CNIL

• Olivier de Ramecourt, Founder of LOOPING Agency and Advisory Board Member of Renaissance Numérique

The conversation explored both the promises and limitations of behavioral strategies and fostered collective reflection on practical solutions for a more balanced and respectful digital ecosystem.

Dr. Reza Zanjirani Farahani, Professor of Management at Paris School of Business, delivered a keynote address at the 52nd International Conference on Computers and Industrial Engineering (CIE52), held on 29–31 October 2025 at INSA Lyon, under the theme Bridging Data-Driven Innovation and Sustainable Practices. Hosted by the DISP Laboratory at INSA Lyon, the conference brought together global scholars, innovative start-ups, and AI-driven industrial organizations.

His keynote, Wildfire Management: Bridging Data-Driven Innovation and Sustainable Resilience, examined how climate trends, fuel accumulation, and fast-changing fire behavior interact with optimization, sensing technologies, and AI-enabled decision support systems. He highlighted promising research avenues - such as multi-sensor early detection, UAV-enabled surveillance, resilient fuel-treatment planning, dynamic crew and aircraft routing, and post-fire recovery modelling - offering early-career scholars a rich landscape for impactful research.

Professeur Farahani also participated in the Meet-the-Editors Panel, joining a distinguished group of leading editors from some of the most prestigious academic journals in the field. Drawing on his own experience as Senior Editor, Associate Editor, and Editorial Board Member across leading journals - including Production and Operations Management, Decision Sciences, International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Computers & Operations Research, Service Science, IEEE-TEMS, and International Journal of Production Research - Dr. Farahani shared guidance on shaping impactful research and navigating the expectations of high-quality journals.

Dr. Nessrine Omrani, Professor of Management and Head of the Management Department at Paris School of Business, was invited as a keynote speaker during the "Meet the Editors" session at the International Conference Forum Innovation 2025. In her role as Associate Editor of the Journal of Technological Forecasting and Social Change (Elsevier), she shared valuable insights into editorial practices and emerging trends in innovation research. 

Organized by the Research Network on Innovation, this year’s edition of the conference focused on the latest advancements in the economics, management, and engineering of innovation, emphasizing the systemic nature of innovation and its potential for broad societal impact.

The event also marked a significant milestone - the 30th anniversary of Innovations, Journal of Innovation Economics and Management. This celebration provided a unique opportunity for participants to engage with leading experts and pioneers in the field of innovation studies.  

Dr. Valérie Mérindol and Dr. David V. Versailles, Professors of Management at PSB, and Co-Directorss of the NewPIC Chair, took part in the conference Franco-German Dialogue on Armament Cooperation and Innovation, organized by the Hanns Seidel Foundation on 8-9 December 2025 in Munich.

This event brought together political, scientific, and industrial representatives to explore ways to enhance armament cooperation, unlock innovation potential, and strengthen alignment among European initiatives.

Dr. Valérie Mérindol spoke at the roundtable event Innovation as a Driver of Franco-German Defense Cooperation, highlighting the dynamics of innovation ecosystems in France and Germany, as well as the role of AI, robotics, and digitalization in fostering mutual inspiration and strengthening defense capabilities.

Dr. David V. Versailles participated in the closing session How to Succeed in Cooperation?, and assessed how proven models and best practices in defense collaboration can be adapted to future joint programs.    

On 18 November, in Saint-Nazaire, during the 2nd edition of Energies Days organized by API News, the economic media outlet of Ouest-France, Dr. Thomas Porcher, Professor of Economics at PSB, delivered a strategic keynote speech on the economic and political framework of energy sovereignty, providing valuable insights into the challenges ahead.

The event brought together a broad network of public and private stakeholders to address the critical challenges of the energy transition. Discussions focused on carbon neutrality with leading energy groups, and were complemented by expert contributions on hydrogen, AI, energy sobriety, and local solutions. Innovative start-ups also pitched their solutions to accelerate the transition, offering an inspiring overview of initiatives shaping the future of energy.

During the 6th edition of the Rencontres de l’Avenir, organized by the City of Saint-Raphaël from 7 to 9 November, Dr. Thomas Porcher, Professor of Economics at PSB, took part in the roundtable discussion: Optimizing Public Spending, Improving Public Services. 

The Rencontres de l’Avenir is a major event that brings together leading figures from the intellectual, economic, and political spheres to reflect on the future of France and the world. It provides an opportunity to exchange ideas and explore concrete solutions to today’s challenges.  

Dr. Olivier Mamavi, Professor of Management at PSB and Editorial Director of Management & Data Science, moderated the roundtable discussion AI Post-Mortem: Learning from Failure to Build Success at Tech Show Paris, on 6 November 2025. 

During this session, leading technical and strategic experts shared their experiences of turning AI project failures into valuable lessons and revealed the winning approaches they used to transform setbacks into success stories. 

 

Tech Show Paris is the flagship international event for technology professionals. Over two days, industry leaders and decision-makers come together to explore the most critical dimensions of the tech landscape and immerse themselves in the innovation ecosystem.  

FamilyBusiness.org has recently published an article based on a study by Dr. Ivan Miroshnychenko, Professor of Management at PSB, originally featured in Family Business Review, one of the leading journals in the field. Co-authored with Dr. Rui Torres de Oliveira, Dr. Alfredo De Massis, and Dr. Ruth Überbacher, the research, titled Family Ownership Can Undermine Financial Health, explores a critical and often overlooked aspect of family business governance: the complex relationship between family ownership and financial performance.

The study examines how family involvement affects a firm’s financial outcomes, with a particular focus on research and development (R&D) and the influence of institutional quality.  

Dr. Valérie Mérindol, Professor of Management and Co-Director of the NewPIC Chair, shared her expertise in the latest edition of La Note de la Fabrique, in the Point of View section, with a contribution titled: L’incompatibilité de la DARPA dans le modèle d’innovation européen 

(The Incompatibility of DARPA with the European Innovation Model), offering an in-depth analysis of strategic challenges and the specificities of the European innovation model. 

This edition, dedicated to  L’industrie de défense au service des ambitions françaises De la maîtrise à la supériorité (The Defense Industry Serving French Ambitions: From Control to Superiority), draws on a series of interviews and workshops bringing together industrial leaders, sector representatives, institutional actors, researchers, and experts. It is published by La Fabrique de l’Industrie, a think tank supported by the industrial sector. 

The report also incorporates several studies by Dr. Valérie Mérindol and Dr. David Versailles, Professor of Management and Co-Director of the NewPIC Chair, on innovation in the defense sector.  

The Conversation France recently featured an article by Dr. Francesco Appio, Professor of Management at PSB, titled Investir dans la biodiversité, entre conviction(s) et rendement(s) (Investing in biodiversity: between conviction(s) and return(s)). Co-authored with Dr. Imane El Ouadghiri, Dr. Jonathan Peillex, and Dr. Mohammed Benlemlih, the piece examines the intersection of financial performance and environmental responsibility. 

Drawing on the analysis of ten stock market indices that integrate biodiversity-related criteria, the authors explore whether investing in biodiversity can align ethical convictions with financial returns. This discussion is grounded in their latest research published in the Journal of Environmental Management, offering evidence-based insights into how sustainability and profitability can coexist in modern investment strategies.  

Dr. Judith Partouche-Sebban, Professor of Marketing at PSB and Director of the Living Health Chair, co-authored an article with Viviane Jauffret Seron and Alain Toledano, Director of the Institut Rafaël, published in the October 2025 edition of Risques et Qualité en milieu de soins. The article, titled Une approche novatrice pour accompagner les patients au-delà des soins (An innovative approach to supporting patients beyond healthcare), highlights Institut Rafaël’s innovative approach to patient care, positioning it as a leader in personalized and integrative healthcare. 

As the principal partner of the Living Health Chair, Institut Rafaël collaborates closely with researchers from Paris School of Business to advance knowledge and improve the patient experience. This partnership combines scientific rigor and solid theoretical foundations with the experiential insights of patients and caregivers, driving the evolution of care practices and fostering new models of support.

In November 2025, Dr. Judith Partouche-Sebban, Professor of Marketing at PSB and Director of the Living Health Chair, together with Dr. Gisele de Campos Ribeiro and Dr. Daniel Maar, both Professor of Marketig at PSB, published an article on ProspeKtive - the platform developed by Kardham, a partner of the Living Health Chair - exploring a space often overlooked: the waiting room.

The article, titled Quand la salle d’attente façonne nos impressions (When the waiting room shapes our impressions), investigates how elements such as lighting, comfort, seating arrangements, and ambient noise shape patients’ experiences, drawing on two complementary studies: one qualitative and the other quantitative.  

Dr. Raphaël Boroumand, Professor of Economics at PSB, is interviewed in the documentary Quel juste prix pour notre éléctricité (What is a fair price for our electricity?), directed by Emmanuel Kessler and broadcast on LCP–Assemblée nationale. This documentary offers a critical assessment of the liberalization of retail electricity markets, twenty years after its launch. Dr. Boroumand shares his expertise on the limitations and challenges of competition in this sector. 

He emphasizes that competition in retail markets is not an end in itself - it must ultimately benefit the consumer. However, the specific characteristics of the electricity sector make it difficult to apply competitive models used in industries such as telecommunications or aviation.  According to Dr. Boroumand, innovation is a key driver of differentiation and market dynamism, but the scope for innovation remains limited in electricity retailing. 

Dr. Raphaël Boroumand is also the co-author of 20 Idées Reçues sur l'Energie (20 Misconceptions About Energy), a book he wrote alongside Thomas Porcher and Stephen Goutte, which sheds light on major contemporary debates surrounding energy policy.  

Dr. Thomas Porcher, Professor of Economics at PSB, was among the experts who analyzed the dynamics behind the surge in deficits in 2024 in the documentary Dette: un scandale Français (Debt: A French Scandal), hosted by Alain Pirot and Gaëlle Schwaller, and broadcast on Sunday 9 November on France 5. An economist and author, Thomas Porcher is also a regular guest on programs such as C dans l’air, where he provides insights into this topic. 

Professor of Economics at PSB, Dr. Thomas Porcher, already a prominent voice in France, is gaining growing recognition for his insights on economic developments abroad.

Dr. Hassan Obeid, Professor of Economics at PSB, has recently been highlighted across several major international media platforms for his insights into geoeconomic and financial issues. His contributions include interviews and expert commentary on key global developments:

Asharq Bloomberg – Analysis of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2025 in Riyadh. 

Al Hadath TV – Providing analysis on gold price fluctuations and their impact on global markets 

Radio Orient – Exploring the future of money through the digital euro and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs)

Asharq TV – Providing analysis on the U.S. government shutdown and its economic impact  

Recent research by PSB faculty members has been published in prestigious ABS 4 and FNEGE 1 ranked journals, addressing key issues in corporate governance, innovation, technology, and tourism. 

These accomplishments exemplify the rigor and impact of our faculty’s scholarly contributions and reflect the dynamic, interdisciplinary nature of academic inquiry at PSB.

Authors: Dr. Ivan Miroshnychenko (Professor of Management at PSB), Lorenzo Ardito, Paolo Capolupo, Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli  

This study explores how leveraging firm-specific mature knowledge through an innovation-through-tradition strategy can enhance export performance. It shows how family governance shapes the effectiveness of this approach and highlights the distinct roles of family management and ownership.

Authors: Dr. Ivan Miroshnychenko (Professor of Management at PSB), Dr. Jonas Soluk, Dr. Satish Nambisan. 

This research examines how family firms adopt AI technologies, emphasizing the role of external network ties in accessing complementary knowledge and accelerating adoption, while also illustrating the varying influences of ownership and management involvement.

Authors: Dr. Van Ha Luong (Assistant Professor of Marketing at PSB), Dr. Aikaterini Manthiou. 

This article explores how video games can spark real-world tourism, using Black Myth: Wukong as a case study. The study highlights the synergy between gamer experience, social media amplification, and destination marketing, supported by LLM-assisted content analysis.  

Authors: Dr. Samir Saadi (Vice-Dean Research, Professor of Finance at PSB), Dr. Abu Amin, Dr. Md Miran Hossain, Dr. Narae Lee 

This study explores how corporate political activities (CPA) shape firms’ environmental performance, with a particular focus on carbon emissions. By testing two competing perspectives - political ties as a force for stricter standards versus a pathway to regulatory leniency - the authors find compelling evidence that politically connected firms emit significantly more carbon.

An article co-authored by Dr. Kim Nguyen, PMP, Dr. Valérie Mérindol, and Dr. David W. Versailles - both Professors of Management and Co-Directors of the NewPIC Chair - has recently been published in the journal Strategic Change. The paper builds on Kim Nguyen’s doctoral research within the Paris School of Business DBA Programme, supervised by Prof. Mérindol, with Prof. Versailles contributing as co-authors. 

The study explores the role of empathy in supporting open innovation, introducing the concept of empathy-related dynamic capabilities at three levels - sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring - and across both individual and organizational dimensions. 

Drawing on eight open innovation projects from different companies, the research provides insights into the organizational conditions that foster collective empathy, framed within a micro-foundations approach. This work advances understanding of how empathy can become a strategic lever for innovation.