IFS.alpha: a new intrapreneurship programme to accelerate the bank’s transformation

19.01.2018

IFS.alpha, which was launched in July 2017, is a new programme that unites intrapreneurship, technology and social responsibility.

Its goal? To accelerate the transformation of the six business lines at International Financial Services (IFS):

capitalizing as much as possible on the expertise and imagination of its employees,
embracing the modernity of modes of creation from startups: their services and technological offers,
building on the Group's historical strengths (customer access, distribution strength, partnership expertise, geographic implementation, financial impact).

Meeting society's latest challenges

This new intrapreneurship programme, which complements the existing initiatives within the Group, relies on intrapreneurs from all over the world to develop new financial or extra-financial services, and help customers transition through the company’s changes.

« Along with the digital transformation of our company there is a tremendous demand for a change in the mindset, in the ways of working and more globally in the way we do our job. People want a greater meaning in their day-to-day work. They want to be actors and not only do what they are told. They want to create, act, initiate. They want to be “intrapreneur”. »

Jacques d’Estais, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of BNP Paribas & Head of International Financial Services

The IFS.alpha Challenge launched in July 2017 aims to have willing employees from the six business lines at IFS come up with, develop and test new financial and non-financial products and services. In this first round, over 80 groundbreaking project proposals were submitted on subjects ranging from digital technology and artificial intelligence to the sharing economy.

“ What these diverse projects all have in common is the desire to dare, to serve our customers more effectively and to have a positive impact on society. ”

Jacques d’Estais

Deputy Chief Operating Officer of BNP Paribas & Head of International Financial Services

The first round of the IFS.alpha Challenge in figures

project proposals from 23 countries

1300

votes to establish a top 50

projects in the final selection

ideas incubated

Convert an idea into reality

The employees behind the seven winning projects will get the chance to bring their ideas to fruition with the assistance of multidisciplinary “squads” with whom they will be working for six months on-site at Bivwak! in Paris.

Bivwak!, BNP Paribas’ intrapreneurship accelerator

Bivwak! is IFS’ designated space for carrying out and accelerating transformation and innovation projects. Its aim? Inciting Group employees, start-ups, schools, customers and partners to work together on projects in order to transform the present and create the growth drivers of the future.

Inaugurated in October 2017, Bivwak! is located in the Sentier neighbourhood in the heart of Paris. The space is used for IFS.alpha initiatives, amongst others.

“ I’M CONVINCED THAT BNP PARIBAS’ COMPANY ENGAGEMENT IS SEEN IN THIS “FORCE FOR INNOVATION” THAT ARE OUR INTRAPRENEURS. IT IS ALSO REFLECTED IN EMPLOYEE NETWORKS AND MORE GENERALLY IN ALL THOSE WHO ARE USING THEIR ENERGY, EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL ETHICS TO PURSUE NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS. WHAT BETTER WAY IS THERE TO GROW AND TO SERVE CUSTOMERS AND SOCIETY THAN BY VALUING AND CAPITALISING ON THOSE WHO ARE NEAREST TO US : THE EMPLOYEES OF TODAY AND THE ENTREPRENEURS OF TOMORROW? ”

Jean-Laurent Bonnafé

Director and Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas