Contribution strengthens INSEAD’s commitment to human connection, sustainability and academic excellence on its Europe Campus in Fontainebleau.
INSEAD, the Business School for the World, announces a €5M gift from Julien Firmenich MBA’08J, CEO of Anaïs Ventures. This leadership gift marks another step in the Europe Campus Re-imagination project, launched in 2023.
“I am deeply grateful to Julien Firmenich for his generosity,” said Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD. “This gift is pivotal to our Europe Campus Re-imagination – a transformation that renews our historic campus, strengthens our physical and digital infrastructure and creates spaces that foster connection, sustainability and academic excellence. It reinforces our mission to bring together people, cultures and ideas to develop responsible leaders who transform business and society.”
The Europe Campus Re-imagination is a multi-phase project that not only elevates INSEAD’s learning environment but also redefines the future of business education. By integrating best-in-class digital innovation, future learning spaces and environmentally conscious design, it aims to create an environment that inspires reflection and connection - all while harmonizing with the natural beauty of the Fontainebleau Forest.
Reflecting on the gift, Julien Firmenich shared: “As our society enters the age of artificial intelligence, supporting advanced education and research is more important than ever. INSEAD has shaped who I am – as a leader, an entrepreneur, and a global citizen, it is a force for good in the world. Reimagining the campus in Fontainebleau is more than a building project; it is an opportunity to ensure that INSEAD remains a catalyst for bold ideas, meaningful experience and lasting positive impact.”
In recognition of this gift, INSEAD will name the future Advanced Education Centre building the Firmenich Advanced Education Centre. It will include the Anaïs Amphitheatre, an innovating circular learning space named in recognition of Anaïs Ventures.
The Firmenich Advanced Education Centre is envisioned as a dynamic and flexible hub for collaboration, mentorship, and debate. It will offer:
- Innovative spaces for faculty, PhD students, and researchers to learn, connect and cocreate
- Flexible rooms for interviews, coaching, workshops, and meetings
- An environment that supports creativity, knowledge exchange, and global thought leadership
Julien Firmenich’s gift follows other significant contributions to the project, including a transformational donation from the Octapharma Foundation (through the generosity of Wolfgang Marguerre MBA’72), as well as support from Christoph Rubeli MBA’92D, Paul Desmarais Jr MBA’79 and David Suddens MBA’78.
About Julien Firmenich
Julien worked for over 15 years at Firmenich SA in leadership roles within the Perfumery and Ingredients divisions. Following the merger of Firmenich and DSM in 2022, he founded Anaïs Ventures SA in Geneva, where he serves as CEO. Anaïs Ventures manages a portfolio of direct investments in public and private companies across various sectors.
A passionate alumnus, Julien has been actively engaged with the school as a Campaign Board member (2019–2023) and as President of the INSEAD Alumni Fund in Switzerland (2021–2024). He is also a founding donor of the Swiss Scholarship established in 2016. Beyond his professional achievements, Julien leads the Ylliam 17 sailing team, which competes on the high-performance TF35 foiling catamaran circuit.
About the Europe Campus Re-imagination Project
- A six-phase project touching virtually every part of the Europe Campus in Fontainebleau.
- Master plan approved in 2022
- Phase 1 started in Spring 2023 and is expected to end Q3 2026
- Focus Areas:
- State-of-the-art learning facilities to support INSEAD's leadership and growth.
- Environmentally responsible design aligned with INSEAD’s long-term climate goals
- Memorable social and event spaces, as well as enhanced services.
- An innovative, future-proof campus with improved phygital integration (physical/digital).
- A vibrant intellectual environment for faculty, staff, and students.
- A place for discovery and creativity, but also action and entrepreneurship
- A campus that nurtures both body and mind, with a wellness area and stronger connection to the forest setting.
- Link to the press release that presents the project.
