At Inöuqa, Émeline did not learn how to make coffee and did not become an expert at the photocopier.
The young woman, a student at UTT (University of Technology of Troyes) and future engineer, was nevertheless the dream intern for Camille and Benoît Losset, united with the city as well as with work.
The couple developed Inöuqa, a giant construction game to stimulate children's imagination, motor skills and autonomy.
Founded in Seine-et-Marne, the start-up has set up shop at the Technopole de l'Aube to take new steps in its development.
In a few weeks, the culmination of three years of work, Inöuqa and its parts which are assembled by magnetism will be marketed.
Also read: 10 good tips for succeeding in your internship (and taking advantage of it)!
This is where the UTT comes into play via a new device called Tipi.
Behind the acronym hide Industrial Transitions through Innovation.
To put it simply, UTT makes its resources available to companies that do not have a specialized engineer.
The good deal for the students who find themselves in a “useful” internship and for the company which benefits from the support of a teacher-researcher to oversee the collaboration.
“This formula makes it possible to demystify and make research accessible,” says Germain Malnoury, head of valorization and technology transfer at UTT.
For six months, Émeline Houdeville, an engineering student in mechanical engineering, brought her skills to the Inöuqa pair.
It was the first time that such an agreement was signed at the UTT.
“Émeline started from scratch and had to clear the bush,” recognizes Camille Losset.
“For us, it was the ideal device.
She helped us channel our slightly crazy ideas!
», Adds her husband.
Read alsoIn Troyes, UTT engineering students make short work of college students
Far from corporate internships which lack concrete aspects, the student had, at each stage of her mission, the marketing and profitability of the Inöuqa range as a backdrop.
“I was able to use the same software as at school but in a more advanced manner.
The range had to be industrializable and marketable.
I discovered aspects that you don't see at school.
If I had done my internship in a larger company, I would not have had access to everything I was able to do with Inöuqa,” underlines the student, supervised throughout her internship by Pierre-Antoine Adragna , teacher-researcher at UTT.
The Tipi system is open to all companies in the Grand Est.
“We have made several contacts for new collaborations,” says Germain Malnoury, who is counting on the success of this first partnership to convince other structures to opt for Tipi.
In the meantime, Inöuqa and its pieces featuring recycled materials are ready to delight children.
“We want to give them back a taste for creativity,” says Camille Losset.
We imagined the game we would have liked to have had when we were younger.
»