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What is “Le Labo de l’Edition”?
The Labo de l’Edition, which translates as “The Publishing Laboratory”, is a neutral, open space
dedicated to publishing professionals. It aims to support new, innovative young structures and assist
those working in the traditional publishing sector in adapting to the challenges created by
digitization. Through its program of events, Le Labo de l’Edition will be bringing together all those
working in the industry, both newcomers and old-timers, to enable them to share their skills so as to
produce new solutions.
The venue is a hybrid structure of 500 square meters, located in the Latin Quarter of Paris, close to
the Place Monge. It consists of a ground floor area, consisting of a platform for events and meetings
including a coworking space and a first floor to be used as an incubator for innovative young
enterprises, to create a synergy between them. Private events will be welcome in the Labo’s
communal areas.
Who is it for?
The Labo de l’Edition is open to every category of publishing professionals: project-owners and
companies, professional associations, freelancers, web-based community tools, schools, universities,
research bodies and public bodies.
Here are some examples: Authors, publishers, pre-press houses and printers, book distributors,
bookshops, libraries, graphic designers, proof-readers, translators, literary agents, online bookselling
platforms, manufacturers of digital readers or software, content access providers, telephone sales
companies, developers, designers, social networks, blogs, community sites or community
information, students, schools, universities, research laboratories, sociologists, economists, jurists,
etc.
Who runs Le Labo de l’Edition ?
Le Labo de l’Edition was initiated by the City of Paris and is run by the Laboratoire Paris Région
Innovation, the leading innovator in the Ile-de-France region. Defined from the outset as a focus for
cooperation, Le Labo de l’Edition adopted a partnerships strategy from the outset, the consequence
of which will be the creation of a mixed public/private governing partnership body.
The various event initiatives
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Events that are open to all
The agenda of the Labo de l’Edition offers several types of initiatives that are open to all. They
include training, product, service or professional development training launches, round table
discussions and debates, barcamps (workshops devoted to a specific topic), incubator focus, and
meetings between project initiators and large companies. No role is predetermined; anyone can be
part of the audience in one discussion, but an expert presenter on the following topic.
Events may be held during the day or on weekday evenings and on certain Saturdays. They will often
be open free to attend. If they require paid admission, this will be specified in the announcements
for the event.

Work groups and panels
In partnership with professional organizations or think tanks, various work groups will be set up in
the course of 2012. The Labo de l’Edition will also call on its community of contacts to set up panels
that can be used to conduct experiments in subjects suitable for research and various studies.
White papers issued by the work groups and assessments of the discussion panels will be used as
subjects at Labo publishing events centre and will be available on the website.
The coworking space
Apart from the holding of events, the large hall of the Labo de l’Edition will be reserved for working
together, for ‘co-working’. Unattached professionals (freelancers and project initiators) will find it a
flexible working space (with facilities such as wifi connection, access to a printer and somewhere to
meet over a drink), promoting meetings with other professionals and the emergence of joint
projects.
Private events
The communal areas of the Labo de l’Edition (a large hall specifically for events + meeting room) can
also be used for private events connected with the Labo’s general purpose, including press
conferences, internal company meetings, etc.
The incubator
The Labo de l’Edition’s incubator is one of seven incubators currently being run by the Paris Region
Innovation laboratory.
It is located right in the heart of the Latin Quarter, Paris’ historic centre of books and publishing. The
first floor of the Labo de l’Edition, reserved for incubation, is an open space that has room for 12
young innovative enterprises at the start-up stage (i.e. in the course of creation or newly created).
For a whole year, they will benefit from an offering of support and accommodation designed to assist
them in growing and ensure that their company lasts.
The support offering from the Labo de l’Edition’s incubator covers:

Accommodation and support services.

Tailor-made support: individual coaching, help with methods and processes and contacts
with qualified experts.

Communal events designed for members of the Paris Incubators community.

A network and connections with the innovation ecosystem.

The opportunity to benefit from Paris Innovation Amorçage funding of up to €30,000.
The enterprises that will be given a space in the heart of the Labo de l’Edition will also benefit from:

Special access to the Labo de l’Edition’s co-working platform, a space open to all those
involved in the publishing industry.

Training in the changes that are now happening within the industry.

A programme of events, discussions and encounters with professionals who are interested in
the way publishing is changing.

The opportunity to participate in working groups and experiments that will be initiated by
the Labo de l’Edition.