ParisTech Review

Five years ago, our first pieces were published.

Five years ago, our first pieces were published. 350 articles and 3.5 million pageviews later, ParisTech Review is proud to announce new projects. Starting with an Indian edition, operated with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, to be launched in 2015. Along with SJTU ParisTech Review (上海交大巴黎高科评论) and an African edition project, this Indian edition will be part of a global network.

We wish to thank our readers, our partners (with a special mention for McKinsey and Knowledge@Wharton) and our sponsor companies: your support is our best encouragement to move forward!

Shanghai Jiao Tong University and ParisTech Review are proud to announce the launching of SJTU ParisTech Review (上海交大巴黎高科评论). Based in Shanghai, this online magazine has been created for a Chinese and global audience of managers and executives, both in private companies and in public administrations.

An international forum
The ongoing technological revolution – the Internet, nanotechnologies, renewable energy, genetic engineering, among others – is affecting the world more radically and rapidly than any in history. At the same time major changes are taking place in demographics, the climate and natural resources. The world is changing. Decision makers need a deeper understanding of these changes and their impact.

On most of these themes, Chinese and Western decision-makers face similar challenges and deal with similar questions, though they may have diverse understandings and different solutions. It is all the more necessary to organize high-level discussions and allow all nations to benefit from each other’s experience and vision.

SJTU ParisTech Review aims to be such a forum, with high-level contributions from both Chinese and Western experts, academics and top-level managers. All articles are available in Mandarin and in English.

Two world-class institutions
SJTU ParisTech Review is backed by two major institutions and supported by sponsors.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University is one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in China. Established in 1896, it possesses a century old history and profound cultural deposit. Since the reform and opening up policy in China, SJTU has taken the lead in management reform of institutions for higher education, regaining its vigor and vitality with an unprecedented momentum of growth.

ParisTech was created in 1991 as a consortium uniting 12 of the best French elite universities, including one business school, HEC, and 11 engineering schools around the prestigious Ecole Polytechnique, established in 1794. The ParisTech Review was launched in 2010 and has now 95,000 subscribers.

In 2011, SJTU and ParisTech established the SJTU-ParisTech Elite Institute of Technology (SPEIT), an international engineering school providing students with tailored courses which combine local needs and global vision.

SJTU ParisTech Review is the next step of this collaboration. It is actively supported by EDF, a leading energy player. Other sponsors will be invited to join.

We have the pleasure to introduce Mrs. Gina Zhang, the new chief editor of our Chinese edition, to be launched by the end of May. A joint operation of ParisTech Review and Shanghai JiaoTong University, SJTU ParisTech Review will publish original articles as well as translations. All articles will be published in both English and Chinese languages. We will keep you informed and post a link as soon as the website is online.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University and ParisTech Review are launching a joint review online in Chinese. The editorial content is related to the social and economic impact of technologies and innovations. It will comprise articles from ParisTech Review translated into Chinese, and specific articles related to China.

Job description

The editor-in-chief will be at the same time the executive director of the review. The editor-in-chief will overview all activities related to the review, and will be fully responsible for the editorial content. The position is proposed by Shanghai JiaoTong University located in Shanghai, China and will start immediately.

1. Initial work immediately after recruitment
• Overview of the design and implementation of the review’s website (technical elements from the ParisTech Review site will be made available)
• Definition of editorial and technical processes (with the help of the ParisTech Review team)
• Definition of actions towards potential readership
• Constitution of the editorial board

2. Permanent tasks
• Overview of translation of ParisTech Review articles into Mandarin (6-7 articles per month)
• Quality control and editing of articles
• Online uploading of articles
• Management and development of readership
• Publishing any specifically Chinese articles (during a second phase only, and sparingly at first: 1 per month maximum), which implies: choice of subjects by the editorial board, identification of authors or interviewees, submission to the editorial board, which plays the role of peer review).
• Approaching and maintaining contacts with sponsoring companies (with the assistance of the ParisTech Review team)

3. Professional profile
• Experience in managing a magazine or a newspaper (online if possible)
• Strong writing and editing skills (Mandarin)
• Internet savvy
• If possible, experience managing a website

4. Personal profile
• A manager, who has had senior management responsibilities, at least of one project
• Basic training as an engineer, or at least with a strong understanding of technical subjects
• Perfectly fluent in English (the knowledge of French will be considered as a plus, but it is not a substitute to the fluency in English).
• Ability to manage translators and interviewers
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent interpersonal skills, allowing to communicate with a high profile editorial board and to approach potential authors who are equally high-level.
• A science journalist who has exercised senior management in a review would be the optimal candidate.

Please send CV and Cover Letter to Dr. Cédric DENIS-REMIS (cedric.denisremis-at-paristech.fr) and Dr. Richard ROBERT (robert-at-www.paristechreview.com).

Last January, we conducted a survey among subscribers to our newsletter. 727 people responded, an unexpected success that reflects our readers’ fondness for their review... Even if their answers are not necessarily representative of our readership as a whole (counting all media platforms, the review has nearly 90,000 subscribers and followers), they are a valuable source of information.

The choice of a non-specialist review is confirmed
One question dealt with the diversity of subjects: 89% of surveyed readers think that the chief interest of the journal resides there. 8% of them even find that the magazine is too focused on certain themes (such as energy).

Professional interest behind intellectual curiosity
To the question “What is your perception of ParisTech Review?”, 39% of respondents answered: “a source of information that can be useful in your professional life” and 28% “a premier publication that helps you form an enlightened opinion on complex subjects that are treated objectively.”

Style and format: more graphs!
A series of questions concerned the manner in which subjects are covered. 86% of readers are satisfied. The length of articles is suitable according to 83% of surveyed readers. Lastly, almost four out of five readers find the style to be enjoyable.

The proposal to further illustrate articles is appealing to readers: 43% want graphs, 20% would like pictures, and 23% would like to see drawings. We have started introducing more graphical elements, and we will continue to do so.

Neutrality and controversy: a mixed message
The journal sets out to be neutral, and its objective is to shed light on controversial topics to enhance debates: does it achieve that goal? It pretty much does, according to 89% of our readers (yes, almost always: 24%; yes, in general: 65%).

But should it leave some room for controversy? For that matter, opinions are divided: 47% said yes, 53% no.

We draw the following conclusion: without abandoning a commitment towards objectivity which is our trademark, we can reckon controversy on some subjects that require a multifaceted approach. Either, within articles, by more systematically reporting the existence of controversies, or occasionally, by allowing two different views to express themselves on the same subject.

Topics
The question “What topics would you like to see addressed more often” displayed all the various themes covered by the review. There are only winners to show here, since each of the possible answers collected between 4 and 11% of wishes. Leading the pack are: Technological Innovation (11%), Energy and Natural Resources (9%), Crisis, finance (9%).

Reading Practices
An article is read first in light of its title (62%), and less often owing to its lead (30%).

34% of respondents report they immediately read an article fully, 66% browse through it and slate to read it at a later time. A full 66% read it on their computer screen.

Comments on the website
91% of respondents find it enjoyable and easy to use. But some readers have expressed a desire for improvements: a more uncluttered and more readable layout, a more daring site design, easier article research and more extensive search options, more illustrations, and a little broader color chart. Several readers regret the lack of a search bar – yet it exists, and is situated on the right column. We are therefore going to drag it upwards to make it more visible.

Tablet and smartphones
Few answers here, which is not surprising as most newsletter subscribers read the review on their PC. The improvements requested concern stability and speed, bugs (especially on the iPad), the ability to save articles in PDF format, ergonomics, and design.

How did subscribers discover ParisTech Review?
29% of respondents discovered the magazine through a network of alumni, 17% through a friend, 36% found it by clicking on a link on another site: 36%, and 18% through Google or another search engine.

Who responded to the survey?
Their studies: 58% are graduates of a ParisTech School (15% from another School, 14% from a French university, and 9% from a foreign university.

Their profession
Engineer and consultant: these are the two main occupations of our suscribers, among a wide variety of occupations.

Their professional field
This information confirms the previous one, with on half of the respondents working either in the industry or in consulting, and the other half evenly distributed across job sectors.

A survey… and so, what’s next?
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the subscribers who have taken the time to answer the questionnaire. Such feedback is very valuable to us, both for what it confirms and for the aspects where readers called for changes. We shall repeat the endeavor regularly, and we hope that many of you will lend us your support.

Dear suscribers, if you read ParisTech Review on your iPad, you have probably experienced repetitive, discouraging bugs. Our application uses a lot of RAM and this is precisely what the iPad is lacking. But we have a solution. Actually, if you experience those bugs you probably don't know that apps need to be closed manually. If you don't do it, they will keep running in the background, causing the battery to drain at a faster rate… and other apps to bug.

Here’s the secret. Double-click the “Home” button (the small, circular button decorated with a small box and located at the bottom of the iPad). A list of apps you’ve opened since the iPad has been turned on appears along the bottom of the screen. There may be a lot – several pages. Touch one of the apps in the list and move your finger to the left to view more apps that are currently running. This is the list of apps running in the background on your iPad.

Touch and hold the icon of an app you want to completely close. Release the app icon when it starts to wiggle and then tap the red “X” button in the upper-left corner of the icon to completely close the app. Repeat this process for any other apps in the list you want to completely close. Only the ones you really want to remain logged in, such as social networks, need to remain open.

Press the “Home” button to lock the rest of the icons in place and close the list of recently used applications. You can now come back to reading ParisTech Review.

Hoping you will enjoy it,
The Editors

Dear Readers,
our first article was published on April, 14th, 2010. Two years and 130 articles later, we have reached 1,2 million page views. Most readers visit the website or use the iPhone application, but have you tried our other free applications on Android, Windows Phone or iPad?
We wish to use this opportunity to thank our authors, partners and patrons. But ParisTech Review also belongs to you. We would be happy to get your impression, to receive your suggestions or submissions. You can post comments to this note or send us messages.
We thank you for your support and look forward to hearing from you soon.
The Editors

Dear readers,

In a note published in April 2011 to celebrate ParisTech Review’s first anniversary, we were announcing you the launching of our iPad application. Six months later, we are happy to introduce it.

Available for free on the AppStore, our new app allows you to:
• Choose your language (English or French)
• Read the latest and the most popular articles
• Browse our content by authors or sections
• Adjust the size’s font inside an article
• Share articles by Email or on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Google Reader
• Save articles if you want to read them later on the application, on Instapaper or on Read It Later
• Bookmark articles on Delicious or Pinboard
• Recommend the application to your networks
• Subscribe to ParisTech Review (newsletter, smartphones applications, RSS, etc.)

As you may notice, we have paid special attention to the application design, in order to provide our readers an enjoyable graphical experience.

We would be happy to get your impression on matters such as design or bugs. You can post comments to this note or send us messages. Your feedback will be of great use for working on the next updates.

Please note that the design of our iPhone application has also been changed. By the end of 2011, our Android and Windows Phone applications will be updated as well, in order to benefit from the iPad graphical improvements.

We thank you for your support and look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Editors

Dear readers,

ParisTech Review has been online for a year.

We have an increasing number of readers and we would like to thank you for your interest. At this time, nearly 20,000 people subscribe to ParisTech Review through our monthly newsletter, smartphone applications (iPhone, Android, WP7), RSS feed, or the social networks (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn). In a few months, you will also be able to read our articles on your iPad or Kindle. In sum, ParisTech Review will be available on all your favorite reading devices.

ParisTech Review is mainly dedicated to analyzing the impact of technological innovations on the economy, business, society, and individuals, as well as major developments affecting demography, the climate, and natural resources. In recent months, we have addressed in particular the topics of energy (solar, nuclear, renewable, etc.), the impact of the Internet (on information, various sectors, management, etc.), crises, and speculative bubbles that mark the economy and society. We have also examined, among other things, education, agricultural issues, and climate change. We have sought to produce feature articles that are relevant over time thanks to our quality writers and editors including academics and researchers, business leaders, and journalists. In the coming months, we will offer you more new articles.

To further improve our articles and attract more readers, we need your help. We welcome your ideas and feedback on the content of the publication, usability of the Web site or its applications, and anything else. You can leave your comments at the bottom of this page or send us a private message.

We thank you for your support and look forward to hearing from you soon.

The editors

The ongoing technological revolution – the Internet, nanotechnologies, renewable energy, genetic engineering, among others – is affecting the world more radically and rapidly than any in history. At the same time major changes are taking place in demographics, the climate and natural resources. Feeding the world, poverty, globalization, pose problems that can only be solved by technological innovation. The world is changing fundamentally. This affects us all, in business, in our private lives, in our roles as citizens.

ParisTech Review assesses how these technological innovations and fundamental changes impact business, the economy, society, and individuals. Our contributors are visionary business leaders, experts, and researchers who specialize in these fields. Our difference: unconstrained, unbiased and rigorous analysis. Our goal: to stimulate non-ideological and non-political debates (save when we debunk these ideologies) and engage our readers.

ParisTech Review is only available on-line. All our articles are available in French and English. We will publish 10 new articles each month and inform our subscribers via an email newsletter.

Subscribing to ParisTech Review is free to allow us to reach the most people possible. We are funded by patrons. Our editorial committee ensures the quality and independence of all our articles.

ParisTech Review invites people around the world who are looking for independent analysis of the great evolutionary changes and technological innovations which are affecting their lives and their companies to subscribe – for free. Join in our debates by commenting on our articles and forwarding them to your friends and colleagues. (The articles on the website can be reproduced under the terms of the Creative Commons licensing agreement.)

We look forward to your comments on our magazine and our first articles. We invite you to explore our website and forward ParisTech Review to others around the world. The debate will be richer, the larger and more international our reach. Welcome to ParisTech Review: now it’s over to you.

The ParisTech Review Editorial Board

While the world changes, our institutions spend a significant amount of their resources preserving the status-quo and avoiding major structural modifications.

This conservatism is not simply due to a concern for their personnel: when a system has proven its worth over time, changing it drastically represents a leap into the unknown. We are not prepared to take such risks, unless forced to do so by competition and market forces, or we are in an unbearable situation and there is nothing to lose. Change then takes place amid violence and pain: this is revolution.

The purpose of our zero|base series is to take non-profit sectors of society and design new, optimal systems adapted to today’s world, taking advantage of all available technological innovations but deliberately ignoring existing structures and socio-political constraints. These articles do not attempt to propose new solutions to current problems: they are purely intellectual exercises. But, we believe, by developing ex-nihilo -on paper- rationally coherent, credible and sustainable systems, we can provoke new ideas and spur analytical debates.

Jean Salmona
Founder and Chairman of the Editorial Board of ParisTech Review