Business Incubator
January 22, 2026 2026-09-29 12:47Business Incubator
EPAU · Business Incubator
Turning ideas into startups and patents
The EPAU Business Incubator supports students, researchers and graduates in transforming innovative ideas in architecture, urban planning and construction into startups, patents and real-world projects.
About the Incubator
A space to innovate, build and launch
Born from the EPAU Maison de l’Entrepreneuriat, the incubator accompanies project holders from the first idea to the prototype, the patent application and the startup. It runs the School’s innovative-project programme under Ministerial Order 1275 (“Diploma – Startup” and “Diploma – Patent”), and connects students with industry, research centres and financing bodies.
After three years of work, dedication and collaboration, EPAU officially received the national “Business Incubator” label, a milestone in the School’s mission to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
Director of the Incubator: Mr. Djamel MERRAD
Labelled
Official national Business Incubator label
Order 1275
Diploma – Startup & Diploma – Patent programme
Since 2022
Workshops, trainings and challenges every academic year
What we offer
Support at every stage of your project
Idea registration & pre-incubation
Each academic year, students and teachers register their innovative ideas on the incubator platform to receive guidance and incubation.
Diploma – Startup / Diploma – Patent
Supervision of final-year projects under Ministerial Order 1275, from the concept to the defence before a jury.
Patent drafting
Intensive sessions to write patent applications and business plans, reviewed with INAPI, the National Startup Committee and the CATI.
Labelling & funding
Guidance to obtain the “Startup” or “Innovative Project” label and to apply for funding from the Algerian Startup Fund (ASF).
Prototyping with industry
Access to the building-materials laboratory and matchmaking with economic partners to develop and test prototypes.
Workshops & training
Design thinking, creativity and innovation workshops, entrepreneurship days and the Global Entrepreneurship Week.
How to join
From idea to startup in four steps
Register your idea
Submit your innovative idea when the annual call for projects opens (students and teachers).
Get guidance
Attend the consultation sessions held by the Incubator, CATI, BLEU, CDE and the House of AI.
Develop your project
Work with your supervisor and the incubator team on the prototype, business plan or patent.
Defend & launch
Defend your Diploma – Startup / Patent, apply for the label and meet partners and funders.
Flagship projects
Innovation rooted in architecture and construction
“Wood Alternative”
A student project developing an alternative to wood. Its final prototype is being prepared with three economic partners and the building-materials laboratory (2025).
Expanded-clay open challenge
An open challenge on the use of expanded clay in architecture, launched with CETIM, Kribi, Neoquim, CNERU and ready-mix concrete producers (2025).
Patent projects – Class of 2023
Graduates who defended patent projects under Order 1275 presented their work to ministers and met industrial partners and banks.
Innovation ecosystem
Working hand in hand with EPAU’s interfaces
CATI
Technology and Innovation Support Centre – patents and intellectual property.
BLEU
University–Business Liaison Office – partnerships with companies.
CDE
Entrepreneurship Development Centre – entrepreneurial culture and training.
House of AI
Artificial Intelligence applied to architecture and urban planning.
Highlights
Recent activities
February 2026
Digital Innovation Caravan hosted at EPAU with ENP, ESI, ENSTP and the University of Ghardaïa.
January 2026
Online consultation session on registering innovative projects, open to all students and teachers.
December 2025
Participation in the African Startup Conference with the House of AI.
November 2025
Global Entrepreneurship Week: lab tour, expanded-clay challenge, digital-content and incubator-logo competitions.
October 2025
Launch of the 2025–2026 innovative projects and working meeting on the “Wood Alternative” prototype.
March 2025
Workshop n°6 “Creativity and Imagination in Innovation and Technological Development”.
2023 – 2024
Patent-drafting days with INAPI experts, weekly Entrepreneurship Days and national awareness days.
Partners
They support our project holders
CETIM (GICA Group)NeoquimAmouda CimentKribiCNERUNational Association of Ready-Mix Concrete ProducersINAPIAlgerian Startup FundENSA IncubatorErasmus+ IPTIKAR
Have an innovative idea?
Students, researchers and graduates: the incubator team is here to help you turn it into a project.
