Rebuilding The Social Fabric
From economic instability, political polarization, rising individualism, mental health crises, and climate disruption, the slow erosion of social cohesion is a common fracture line.
This special issue brings together voices from across the HEC community — researchers, entrepreneurs, students, alumni — to explore the role of trust and social bonds as foundations for economic resilience, democratic vitality, and fair transition. Without it, progress collapses.
Through research insights, bold ideas, and inspiring stories, discover how we can rebuild the bonds that hold our societies together.
Sustainability & Society
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Frederique Veldhuis: Building Trust Where Certainty Falls Apart
When Frederique Veldhuis speaks about trust, she doesn’t talk about it as a value to defend; she treats it as a structure to design, test, and patiently rebuild.
Entrepreneurs Rebuild the Places Where People Connect
Across cities, a new wave of entrepreneurs is rebuilding something we’ve lost: spaces for human connection. Known as tiers-lieux, these inclusive civic spaces blend work, culture, and community, driving innovation through recomposition.
Tom & Josette: Reinventing childcare through intergenerational micro-nurseries
Astrid Parmentier and Pauline Faivre co-founded an intergenerational model of nurseries located in retirement homes to address the issues of capacity and recruitment in the early childhood and elderly care sectors.
La maison de la Conversation: Here we treat the ailment of the century!
Isolation, mistrust, social fracture: loneliness is the crisis of our time. Xavier Cazard turns it into a lever for social cohesion and public health, fostering conversation between citizens, one neighborhood at a time.
