Our History

Think tank pionner, created in 1997, IDATE DigiWorld anticipated and went along with all the great digital evolutions. Founded by a visionary group in order to organize debates between the enterprises, the regulators and the universities, the groups of IDATE DigiWorld built their reputation on the economic analysis, the international benchmark, the guidance and the foresight.

• 1977 : IDATE founded by François Schoeller
• 1978 : First IDATE International Conference
• 1986 : Company name/acronym changes from “Institute for the development of telecommunications and the economy” to “Institute for audiovisual media and telecommunications in Europe” (Institut de l’Audiovisuel et des Télécommunications en Europe)
• 1986 : Creation of the IDATE Foundation devoted to collaborative work performed by Foundation members
• 1987 : François-Henri de Virieu becomes Chairman of IDATE
• 1991 : Inauguration of the new building, IDATE’s current HQ
• 1992 : Development of an international network of partners
• 1995 : Launch of the first IDATE website: www.idate.org
• 1997 : Marc Tessier becomes Chairman of  IDATE
• 1999 : Francis Lorentz becomes Chairman of IDATE
• 2000 : First edition of the “DigiWorld Yearbook” published
• 2006 : “DigiWorld Summit” becomes the new brand of the 28th annual IDATE International Conference
• 2007 : The brand “DigiWorld Institute” replaces the “IDATE Foundation” appellation
• 2010 : Launch of the DigiWorld application for iPad to coincide with the launch of the tablet’s first iteration
• 2011 : François Barrault becomes Chairman of l’IDATE
• 2012 : The brand “IDATE DigiWorld” replaces the “IDATE”appellation
• 2014 : Launch of the “DigiWorld week” that accompanies the “DigiWorld Summit”
• 2015 : Launch of the prospection conference session “DigiWorld Future” in Brussels, London and Paris
• 2016 : The group IDATE DigiWorld is distinguished as the best consultancy company by the magazine Capital
• 2017 : IDATE DigiWorld celebrates its 40th anniversary