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Grenoble École de Management (GEM) and the Institute for International and Strategic Relations (IRIS) are joining forces to launch a new annual event: the Grenoble Geopolitics Forum, dedicated to understanding the major transformations shaping the contemporary world. The inaugural edition will take place on November28–29, 2025, on GEM’s Alpes Campus, at the heart of a region that embodies climate, energy, and societal transitions.
In an international context marked by rising tensions, shifting power dynamics, and the fragmentation of economic balances, GEM and IRIS are creating a new forum for dialogue, bringing together researchers, diplomats, journalists, business leaders, and students.
Geopolitics has become an essential strategic tool for understanding the world and informing economic decisions. GEM has been a pioneer in this field, and this event is a natural extension of that work,”
A pioneer in the field, GEM has made geopolitics a cornerstone of its teaching for more than fifteen years, thanks to its structured partnership with IRIS. The GEM–IRIS Sup’ dual degree is now one of the most recognized programs in the French business school landscape, combining management, strategy, and an understanding of global power dynamics.
This program offers students the opportunity to expand their professional network by providing privileged access to an ecosystem of international experts and actors. This approach is also supported by specialized tracks such as the Géolab Track, which trains students to anticipate crises, assess risks, and act with clarity in an unstable global environment. This unprecedented program, based on geopolitics applied to business, allows students to gain an indepth understanding of international dynamics while developing operational skills sought after in numerous sectors. In 2025, nearly a hundred students are enrolled in this track, reflecting the growing interest in these subjects.
The launch of the Grenoble Geopolitics Forum also builds on the strategic partnership recently established between GEM and the IHEDN (Institute for Higher National Defense Studies), a public institution under the authority of the Prime Minister.
As the first French business school to partner with the IHEDN, GEM further strengthens its commitment to educating leaders who are aware of defense, sovereignty, and economic intelligence issues. Starting in March 2026, GEM will host the IHEDN Young Leaders Program in Grenoble—an immersive week of lectures, simulations, and field meetings with civilian and military actors— designed to develop students’ strategic awareness and resilience.
More and more students want to understand the world in which they will operate. To navigate unstable environments, they need solid frameworks for analysis. This is the very purpose of our commitment to geopolitics and our partnerships with IRIS and IHEDN: to prepare our students to act with clarity and responsibility in a world in transition”
Alongside the Grenoble Geopolitics Forum, GEM’s student community is also actively fostering geopolitical debate throughout the year. For example, the GEM ONU association was organizing “Geopolitics Meetings” on November 6–7 at the GEM Paris campus, in partnership with the IHEDN Paris Île-de-France Auditors Association.
The Grenoble Geopolitics Forum will feature four major public roundtables, led by figures from academia, diplomacy, and the media:
The Grenoble Geopolitics Forum will take place from November 28 to 29, 2025, at GEM’s Alpes Campus (12 rue Pierre-Sémard,
