ANIMA: MBS’s new campus at the heart of its transformation

In September 2027, MBS School of Business will open the doors to ANIMA, its new campus in the Cambacérès district of Montpellier.
This project marks a new chapter in MBS’s history. It reflects the school’s ambition to become a place where transformation happens, bringing together students, faculty, businesses and partners to learn, experiment and work together on major economic, societal, technological and environmental challenges.

ANIMA, a campus that reflects MBS’s transformation

In 2027, MBS will celebrate its 130th anniversary and begin a new chapter with the opening of its ANIMA campus in Montpellier.

Representing an investment of €108 million, the new campus will offer more than 28,000 m² of space dedicated to learning, research, experimentation and innovation.

But ANIMA is much more than a change of address. The project supports MBS’s ambition to become a school that drives transformation. The goal is to better understand economic and societal changes, explore new approaches and turn ideas into action.

This ambition is captured in MBS’s new signature: “Think. Test. Transform.”

The campus will bring together students, faculty, businesses, local authorities and partners in one shared environment, encouraging collaboration, the exchange of ideas and the development of joint projects.

A living lab for new ways of learning and experimenting

Observing, testing and putting ideas into practice: these principles have guided the design of MBS’s new campus.

ANIMA will feature an experimental retail store, a trading room, behavioural observation spaces, Learning Labs, a business club and applied research laboratories.

These facilities will give students opportunities to learn through real-world experiences. They will also strengthen the connections between teaching, research and the challenges faced by businesses.

This approach will also shape the learning experience. Through the Learn, Explore, Apply, Drive model, students will acquire knowledge, explore new ideas, put what they have learned into practice and develop their ability to take action.

Artificial intelligence, digital technologies and positive impact will also be integrated into the curriculum, helping students prepare for the changes reshaping professions and industries.

ANIMA will become a living lab, where knowledge can be tested in real-world situations and developed through experimentation.

Open Lab, Knowledge Lab, Impact Lab: three pillars to drive transformation

MBS’s transformation goes beyond its new campus. It is also supported by a strategic plan built around three complementary pillars.

Open Lab: expanding connections and collaboration

The first pillar aims to strengthen relationships between MBS, businesses, regional stakeholders and academic partners, both in France and internationally.

This includes the creation of the Franco-Chinese Institute in Chengdu, in partnership with SWUFE. It also involves expanding academic partnerships, international study pathways and mobility opportunities.

Knowledge Lab: transforming learning and research

The second pillar places educational innovation and knowledge creation at the heart of MBS’s development.
It encourages immersive learning experiences, applied research and new ways of using artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

The aim is to bring academic knowledge closer to professional realities and create more opportunities to apply it in practice.

Impact Lab: measuring and strengthening MBS’s impact

The third pillar focuses on better measuring, showcasing and increasing the impact of MBS’s activities on students, alumni, businesses and local communities.

It also reflects the school’s commitment to educating future professionals who can understand the changes shaping our world and make a positive, lasting contribution.

2027: a new chapter for MBS in Montpellier

With ANIMA, MBS is pursuing a transformation that goes far beyond the construction of a new campus.

The project will help reshape teaching methods, create more opportunities for experimentation and strengthen connections between research and business. It will also bring MBS closer to its wider environment, both in Montpellier and internationally.

This new chapter is part of the school’s broader development strategy, designed to support its ambitions while preserving its strategic independence.

Located in the Cambacérès district, MBS’s new campus has also been designed with consideration for the environmental challenges associated with its construction and operation.

From September 2027, students, faculty, businesses and partners will be able to come together in a campus designed to learn, experiment and transform.