Franco-German Platform Franco-German Platform
The platform that connects French and German family businesses.
A platform for exchanges, research and cooperation
The Franco-German Platform of the HEC Paris Family Business Center aims to strengthen exchanges, research, and cooperation between French and German academic and entrepreneurial ecosystems around the model of family enterprises.
It identifies and highlights the initiatives led by universities, business schools, institutions, and networks in both countries, fostering mutual understanding and the dissemination of best practices.
Designed as a collaborative and evolving tool, the platform is structured around three pillars:
- Think – mapping research actors and knowledge produced on family businesses in France and Germany;
- Teach – identifying degree and executive education programmes, training initiatives, and academies dedicated to family business;
- Act – listing events, publications, and initiatives that encourage dialogue and joint action among scholars, practitioners, and entrepreneurial families. It reflects the mission of the Family Business Center: to understand, to teach, and to act, in order to
THINK
- INSEAD The Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise Area
A research and teaching hub dedicated to entrepreneurship and family businesses. Its work focuses on governance, succession, and the sustainable development of family enterprises on an international scale.
- Paris Dauphine-PSL University – Chair in Family Businesses and Long-Term Investment
Its purpose is to foster the development of an ecosystem involving researchers from Paris Dauphine University - PSL, as well as their national and international network, in order to develop research on family businesses and their dynamics and promote them to all stakeholders. This Chair is affiliated with the Dauphine Research Management Laboratory (DRM) and the Dauphine Economics Laboratory (LEDA) at the University.
(Newsletter Sept.2025 + Abstract article « Succession in family firms : Factors at play and broader perspectives by Prof. Mattia Girotti, Professeur de finance- Université Paris Dauphine – PSL)
- EDHEC Business School - Family Business Chair
The EDHEC Business School Family Business Chair's mission is to contribute to the development and transmission of responsible entrepreneurship by inspiring family businesses and their stakeholders through research, training them with dedicated, tailor-made programmes, and offering events and other initiatives that promote the sharing of best practices.
- Audencia – Chair in Family Entrepreneurship and Society
The Family Entrepreneurship & Society Chair is a hub for research, knowledge sharing and best practices for family businesses. Its aim is to produce data and studies to fuel academic research and contribute to a better understanding of family businesses.
- EM Strasbourg – Chair in Governance and Transfer of Family Businesses.
The Chair aims to disseminate the tools and best practices identified during studies and training courses to managers and buyers of family businesses. It also aims to help and assist managers in implementing these best practices.
- IPAG Business School - Chair of Sustainable Family Business and Entrepreneurship IPAG Business School
The Chair is a global centre of excellence for the study and promotion of sustainable practices within family businesses and entrepreneurship, facilitating a future where business success is harmoniously aligned with responsible management of society and the environment.
- Recent doctoral theses Family Business
Research
- Technische Universität München (TUM)- Global Center for Family Enterprise
The Global Center for Family Enterprise (GCFE) focuses on the interplay between the “family” and the “enterprise”. The Center’s research focuses on three main research areas: Sustainability, New Technologies and Innovation and Strategy and Governance in Family Enterprises.
- Technische Universität München (TUM)- Chair for Family Business Culture and Ownership
The EQUA Endowed Chair for Family Business focuses on how the distinctive culture of family businesses influences organizational decisions and outcomes.
- WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management - the Chair of Family Businesses
The Chair of Family Businesses of WHU sees itself as a pioneer in the field of research into family business. This is achieved by focusing on issues that are relevant to both science and practice, providing intensive supervision of doctoral students and interested students, and fostering collaborations that result in top-level scientific publications.
- HSBA – Institute for Mittelstand and Family Firms (IMF)
The Institute for Mittelstand and Family Firms is an independent institute under private management sponsored by HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration. Its aim is to identify the specific challenges faced by SMEs and family businesses (in Hamburg), to generate scientifically sound solutions and to transfer the findings to the economy.
- University Mannheim « Family Business Research Group »
Publications
- Article « Double Binds in Dialogue: Unraveling Paradoxical Communication in Business Families and Family Businesses » by Theresa Arnold, Steffen Roth, Heiko Kleve. Published April 1, 2025.
- Article « The Life Cycle of Family Ownership » : a Comparative Study of France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. by Julian Franks, Colin Mayer, Paolo Volpin and Hannes F. Wagner, March 19, 2009.
Call for Papers
- Call for Papers – EURAM 2026 | Track T04_07 (SIG: Family Business Research)
- EY - Family Business
EY, For Talents and FBN France unveil the 1st Barometer of Family Business Transfer, produced with the support of OpinionWay. Barometer of family business transfers, Antoine Moittié, 7 October 2025.
- The French Association of Family Offices (AFFO) has partnered with EY to produce the 10th edition (2025) of the Family Office Barometer.
- European Commission on Family Business – Family Business Environment/ Platform
Family businesses make up more than 60% of all companies in Europe. They range from sole proprietors to large international enterprises. Big or small, listed or un-listed, family businesses play a significant role in the EU economy. The European Commission recognises this role and promotes the creation of a favourable environment where family businesses can grow and develop.
Find out more about Family Business
- WIFU (Wittener Institut für Familienunternehmen) is a highly renowned training and research institute under the auspices of Witten/Herdecke University and which published 25 papers in 2025 .
- SAGE - Case Study « Constructing Business Families: Instruments and Practices for Cohesion » by Tobias Köllner & Heiko Kleve. Publication January 14, 2025.
- Article « Family Firms Prosper When Shareholders Think Like Trustees » by Fabian Simons , Raphaëlle Mattart and Heiko Kleve. February 25, 2025.
- Family Business Governance in Europe : trends and insights by SDA Bocconi School of Management and BNP Paribas Wealth Management
TEACH
Initial Training
- Académie "Family Business Strategy & Advisory Academy" - Campus HEC Paris & HEC UK House
Research
- Governance and Family Business Succession Chair - EM Strasbourg
Research chair on the governance and transfer of family businesses
Initial Education / Research
The Global Center for Family Enterprise @ TUM Munich and Heilbronn
- Project Studies, Bachelor & Master Theses and student jobs (Research Assistants, Working Students and Interships) are available under: https://tum-som.com/jobboard/
- Apply for a research projet: Developing a Marketing Strategy for DeepGolf to Foster a Community of Golfers.
The Friedrichshafen Institute for Family Business - Zeppelin University
- FIF actively promotes the exchange between students and practitioners. Our student-led initiatives empower the next generation of leaders in family businesses and provide space for growth and innovation.
Research at Family Business Research Group - University of Mannheim
- The interdisciplinary Family Business Research Group at the University of Mannheim has been dedicated to independent family business research for over 30 years.
- New course review "Managing the Family Business » Spring 2026.
France
- Family Enterprise Consortium / INSEAD Workshop, Fontainebleau, March 17-20, 2026. Workshop in English organised by the INSEAD Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise, focusing on long-term generational commitment, governance, succession and family planning in business.
- Université Famille et Entreprise (UFE 2026), Cannes, 23 and 24 March 2026 (training reserved for notaries established in France) focusing on business transfers, taxation, wealth management advice and family organisation.
Germany
University/degree programmes
- Technische Universität München (TUM). TUM School of Management's tailor-made management education. The TUM-BWL program provides with a deep understanding of business principles, technical skills, practical experience and international perspectives.
- Within the TUM Ecosystem, FamilienUnternehmerTUM is the innovation incubator for family businesses. The platform is an initiative of UnternehmerTUM, Europe's largest center for start-ups and innovation.
- Munich Business School – University of Applied Sciences Global Family Business M.A. International Business, 100% in English, 4 Semesters.
- University of Mannheim - Course review « Managing the Family Business » (April 28, 2025)
Hands-on learning for Master's students: A new course at the University of Mannheim connects students with leading German family businesses.
- WIFU (Wittener Institut für Familienunternehmen / University of Witten/Herdecke) : offers courses in ‘Familienunternehmertum’ (family entrepreneurship), from bachelor's to master's degrees and even up to promotion/habilitation.
- MBA Steinbeis Hochschule + BVMW (Bundesverband mittelständische Wirtschaft) : Executive MBA Familienunternehmen - targeted further training for family business managers: 7 x 4-day modules, in German, in Stuttgart, 60 ECTS with 2 start dates (spring and autumn)
Executive Education
- TUM Heilbronn Campus – Global Center for Family Enterprise
Guiding Family Enterprises from Tradition to Innovation – the Global Center for Family Enterprise (GCFE).
- WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management – Institute of Family Business and Mittelstand : the Institute of Family Business and Mittelstand at WHU (ifbm@WHU) is a thought leader in the field of family business and small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Konferenz: Betreuung privater Vermögen und Familienunternehmen 2026: Recht und Steuern organised by FORUM • Institut für Management GmbH
Heidelberg, June 18 & 19, 2026 or 100% Online
- Familien Unternehmer Akademie / The Family Business Academy. Our platform offers valuable knowledge for managers at all levels, shareholders and advisory boards of family businesses.
- ISM (International School of Management): Master's degree in Entrepreneurship/Business Management, which prepares students to run a business – relevant for taking over or managing a family business.
- Zeppelin University – FIF: offers courses (in Bachelor's and Master's programmes, or part-time Master's programmes) with a specialisation in ‘Family Entrepreneurship / Familienunternehmen’.
- The certification programmes (CDF) enable specialisation for board members/shareholders. It is a multimedia portal and the target audience is COMEX or CA members. Hybrid format, Hamburg and online, maximum 10 places.
- INTES Akademie offers modular formats, coaching and workshops for entrepreneurial families. It is the academy created by PwC and offers mainly tailor-made services:
- The ‘Gesellschafter:innen Kompetenz’ (shareholder skills programmes) format is specifically geared towards members of business families at the University of Witten/Herdecke. Next intake from 11 September 2026 to 13 November 2027 in five modules.
ACT
EY – Family Business Transfer Barometer: Leveraging Entrepreneurial Renewal, 8 October 2025
OpinionWay survey conducted from 5 June to 15 July 2025 among 183 family business leaders (126 transferors, 57 transferees). With 71% of French businesses being family-owned and half of them set to be transferred within the next ten years, business transfer is a strategic issue for our economy and our regions. This barometer gives a voice, for the first time, to transferors and transferees, providing a cross-perspective on transfer.
KPMG - Global Family Business Report 2025
Our latest research report prepared in collaboration with STEP Project Global Consortium and KPMG Private Enterprise using data collected from 2,683 businesses from over 80 countries provides a deeper understanding of the core drivers of family business growth – effective governance and leadership, a focus on sustainability across generations and the capacity for strategic investment to enhance performance.
Facts and figures on Family Businesses by Stiftung Familienunternehmen, Munich, September 3, 2025 and its 7th edition of the Foundation’s study on the economic importance of family businesses.
Article Les Echos, 26/09/2025 « Le défi de la transmission : La France perd 20 000 entreprises familiales chaque année" by Karine Charbonnier-Beck (President of Beck Industries, Vice-President (LR) of the Hauts-de-France region) and Denis Terrien (President of the French Institute of Directors (IFA).
by INSEAD – Family and Business Learning Tool
Just like cars run on gasoline or electricity, families and their businesses run on information. Our 360-degree assessments provide real-world insights to align your family and business goals.
Trusted Family is the secure digital platform that connects family businesses, shareholders and advisors.
It facilitates collaboration, optimises decision-making and strengthens governance to ensure sustainability and succession.
Community
France
INSEAD Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise
Cercle des Enfants Dirigeants d’Entreprises Familiales
Family and Business Forum – La Tribune – FBN
Family Business Network France
AFFO (Association Française du Family Office)
Germany
AK Familienunternehmen (Arbeitskreis Familienunternehmen / Frankfurt) - Family Business Working Group (Frankfurt)
Die GUG Die Gesellschaft für Unternehmensgeschichte (GUG) (Frankfurt) - The Society for Business History (GUG) is an internationally recognised academic institution dedicated to promoting research into family business history.
Familienunternehmen Stiftung - Fondation d’entreprise familiale (Munich) - "What matters to Family Business"
Die Familien Unternehmer - The family entrepreneurs
Stiftung Familienunternehmen & Politiks
Ifo Institute - Foundation for Family Businesses
Institute for Entrepreneurship, Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, and Family Businesses. The EMF Institute is an interdisciplinary research institution at the Berlin School of Economics and Law.