The Sopra Steria-Institut de France Foundation

Our mission

The Sopra Steria-Institut de France Foundation supports projects using digital technology to serve vulnerable people and the environment.

 

It operates in two ways:

  1. By supporting and funding solidarity projects that help the most vulnerable young people and their families navigate their digital lives.
  2. By funding research projects on responsible artificial intelligence.

In doing so, it contributes to the fields of digital education, digital inclusion, and environmental preservation.

 

Why these areas?

  • In today’s connected world, acquiring and using digital skills is  important  for, social, professional, cultural, or even civic inclusion,
  • In our fully digital society, with the extensive use of social media and AI, education in critical thinking and responsible digital practices strengthens democracy, combats online violence, and protects the most vulnerable,
  • The scope of digital technologies is wide particularly through the digitalisation of services and the use of artificial intelligence to better manage resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Since 2001, the Foundation, with the support of Sopra Steria employees, has supported more than 120 projects run by non-profit organisations in diverse areas.

It is sheltered by the Institut de France.

 

Key Dates

2001 - Creation of the Foundation, sheltered by the Institut de France

2003 - Launch of the Students Award

2016 - The Foundation extends its activity to a new domain, the preservation of environmental resources

2019 - The Students Award becomes the "Entrepreneurship for tomorrow" Award, open to young entrepreneurs

2021 - The Foundation celebrates its 20-year anniversary

2024 – Last edition of the “Entrepreneurship for tomorrow” Award

2025 – Launch of the "Grand Prize” dedicated to responsible Artificial Intelligence


 

Key Figures

  • Over 100 projects supported with 80 charities
  • Over 230 Sopra Steria employee volunteers sponsoring projects
  • 22 editions of the Entrepreneurship for tomorrow award with the participation of hundreds of students from engineering schools, business  schools and universities, and young entrepreneurs
  • Over 24 years of solidarity in action!

 

Our support

We provide financial support: each project is granted with a budget of minimum €10,000. Projects must be presented by French non-profit organisations bringing a direct benefit to final users in the community. Projects asking for IT functional support of organisations or donation of IT equipment only are not eligible. 

 

We sponsor projects thanks to Sopra Steria employee volunteers. Volunteers can bring guidance and expertise in various fields: project methodology, technical or functional expertise, mentorship, etc. The Foundation is an opportunity for our employees to share their skills for the benefit of disadvantaged people.

 

We support scientific research through our Grand Prize, worth €100,000, which aims to support European scientific research on responsible artificial intelligence. Through this Grand Prize, the Foundation asserts its conviction: a technology that claims to transform our societies cannot develop without safeguards and scientific guidance. The prize seeks to support research that enables better measurement, evaluation, and action on the environmental impacts—both positive and negative—of artificial intelligence and disruptive digital technologies.

The call for applications is open to researchers based in European laboratories from 19 December 2025 until 20 February 2026.

 

Our governance

The Foundation is governed by a Board, composed of members from Institut de France and from Sopra Steria. 

The members from Institut de France:

  • Xavier Darcos, President - Chancellor of the Institut de France 
  • Serge Abiteboul, Member of the Academy of Sciences
  • François Baccelli, Member of the Academy of Sciences
  • Yves Quéré,  Member of the Academy of Sciences

The Sopra Steria members:

  • Axelle Lemaire, Sopra Steria Representative - Global Head of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Sopra Steria
  • Karen Heitzmann, Operations Director Vertical Financial Services, Sopra Steria
  • Fabienne Lengrand, Human Resources Director, Sopra Steria
  • Yves Nicolas, AI Group Program Director & Deputy Group CTO, Sopra Steria