Faced with multiple crises – environmental, social, societal, geopolitical and democratic – public and private organisations are seeking new paradigms that will enable economic activity to be reconciled with the necessary preservation of human and non-human life, in a spirit of strong sustainability. This involves moving away from an extractivist approach that consumes large amounts of natural and human resources, towards a regenerative approach that drastically reduces the negative impacts of organisations on the environment and society, and generates net positive impacts.

In 2024, the Grenoble INP Foundation initiated the creation of a chair dedicated to these issues of strong sustainability: Regen Lab. It began in September 2025. Its purpose is to explore, co-design, experiment with and share the models and tools needed to operationalise the regenerative strategies of economic players in our region, enabling them to become more robust and ensuring their long-term viability.

Two research areas were chosen to explore these models that respect planetary boundaries and social floors: industry and outdoor tourism. These two economic sectors have significant social and environmental implications, particularly for the Alpine region.