DigiWorld Institute
Professional services
UnclaimedDigiWorld Institute is the research, consulting, and digital-economy think-tank activity associated with IDATE, serving media, internet, and telecommunications organizations.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
DigiWorld Institute is the internationally oriented digital-economy think tank and professional-services activity associated with IDATE, a French organization founded in 1977 by François Schoeller. Its work is focused on the media, internet, telecommunications, and wider digital-technology sectors. The organization supports companies, public authorities, and other institutional clients through a combination of market research, sector databases, strategic studies, consulting, events, and collaborative work on the future of digital industries. The institution began as IDATE, originally established to contribute expertise on telecommunications and the development of the communications economy. Its scope and identity evolved as audiovisual media, telecommunications, and digital services converged. In 1986, the organization adopted the French name Institut de l’Audiovisuel et des Télécommunications en Europe and created the IDATE Foundation to support collaborative work among members. During the 1990s, it expanded its international network, established a permanent headquarters in Montpellier, and replaced its earlier bulletin with the Communications & Strategies journal. IDATE progressively developed a public-facing international research and events platform. The first DigiWorld Yearbook appeared in 2000, providing an annual synthesis of developments in digital markets. In 2006, the DigiWorld Summit became the new identity for the organization’s long-running international conference. The following year, the IDATE Foundation activity was reorganized under the DigiWorld Programme, strengthening the think-tank dimension of the institution. In 2012, the DigiWorld Institute brand replaced the DigiWorld Programme name. The organization’s activities are generally grouped into three areas. Its research function produces reports, market analyses, forecasts, and databases concerning digital markets and innovation. Its consulting practice conducts commissioned studies for businesses and public-sector bodies, including work related to market structure, technology adoption, digital transformation, and sector strategy. Its think-tank function convenes experts and stakeholders around structural questions affecting the digital economy, often through publications, conferences, and collaborative programs. DigiWorld Institute is therefore best understood as a knowledge and advisory brand rather than a consumer product brand. Its principal offerings include research publications, market intelligence, strategic consulting, the DigiWorld Yearbook, the DigiWorld Summit, and related events and analytical programs. The organization has been led by a succession of chairs and executives drawn from the telecommunications, media, technology, and public-policy fields. Available reference material identifies François Barrault as president and Jacques Moulin as chief executive, alongside directors responsible for digital territories, innovation, events and communications, finance, media and telecommunications, and business development.
History
IDATE was founded in 1977 by François Schoeller as a French institution concerned with telecommunications and the communications economy. Its first international conference took place in 1978, establishing an early forum for discussion among specialists in communications industries. In 1986, the organization changed its name and acronym-related identity to reflect a broader focus on audiovisual media and telecommunications in Europe. That year it also created the IDATE Foundation, intended to organize collaborative work among foundation members. François-Henri de Virieu became chairman in 1987. In 1991, IDATE inaugurated the building that became its headquarters, and its earlier publication, the Bulletins de l’IDATE, was replaced by the Communications & Strategies journal. The organization continued to develop an international network of partners during the early 1990s and launched its first website in 1995. Leadership changed during the late 1990s, with Marc Tessier becoming chairman in 1997 and Francis Lorentz taking the chair in 1999. In 2000, IDATE published the first DigiWorld Yearbook, creating a recurring reference publication for analysis of the digital economy and related markets. The organization’s event and think-tank identity became more prominent during the 2000s. In 2006, the DigiWorld Summit was introduced as the new brand for the organization’s annual international conference. In 2007, the IDATE Foundation activity was renamed the DigiWorld Programme. The 2008 edition marked the thirtieth DigiWorld Summit and examined the future of the internet as its central theme. In 2010, IDATE released a DigiWorld application for the iPad, aligning its information service with the emergence of tablet computing. François Barrault became chairman in 2011. In 2012, the DigiWorld Institute brand replaced the DigiWorld Programme name, consolidating the organization’s research, consulting, events, and think-tank activities under a more internationally recognizable identity. The present-day DigiWorld Institute is associated with IDATE and focuses on digital-market research, consulting for industry and public authorities, and collaborative analysis of the strategic issues shaping media, internet, telecommunications, and digital transformation.
- 2012
DigiWorld Institute brand introduced
[1]The DigiWorld Institute name replaces the DigiWorld Programme brand.
- 2010
DigiWorld iPad application
[1]IDATE launches a DigiWorld application for the first generation of Apple’s iPad.
- 2008
Thirtieth DigiWorld Summit
[1]The thirtieth edition of the summit focuses on the future of the internet.
- 2007
DigiWorld Programme created
[1]The former IDATE Foundation activity is reorganized under the DigiWorld Programme.
- 2006
DigiWorld Summit brand introduced
[1]The DigiWorld Summit becomes the public brand for IDATE’s annual international conference.
- 2000
First DigiWorld Yearbook
[1]The first DigiWorld Yearbook is published as an annual synthesis of developments in digital markets.
- 1995
First website
[1]IDATE launches its first website as part of its international information and partner network.
- 1991
New headquarters and journal transition
[1]IDATE opens its current headquarters building and replaces its earlier bulletins with the Communications & Strategies journal.
- 1986
Name and institutional scope change
[1]IDATE adopts an identity centered on audiovisual media and telecommunications in Europe and creates the IDATE Foundation.
- 1978
First IDATE International Conference
[1]The organization holds its first international conference, beginning a long-running program of industry events.
Products and positioning
An independent-style European research, consulting, and think-tank platform focused on digital markets, media, internet services, telecommunications, innovation, and digital transformation.
Annual research publication · 2000
DigiWorld Yearbook
The DigiWorld Yearbook is an annual analytical publication covering major developments in the digital economy. It provides a consolidated view of trends affecting telecommunications, media, internet services, and digital technologies, functioning as a reference product for industry participants and policy stakeholders.
Industry conference · 2006
DigiWorld Summit
The DigiWorld Summit is the branded international conference associated with IDATE and DigiWorld. It brings together specialists and decision-makers to discuss structural issues in telecommunications, media, internet services, and the wider digital economy. The summit replaced the earlier IDATE International Conference branding in 2006.
Market intelligence
DigiWorld research and databases
DigiWorld’s research activity produces reports, market studies, databases, and analysis of digital industries and innovation. The work is designed to support strategic decisions by companies, public authorities, and other organizations operating in or regulating media, internet, telecommunications, and technology markets.
Professional services
Strategic consulting
The consulting activity provides commissioned studies and advisory work for industry and public authorities. Its stated scope includes digital markets, telecommunications, media, innovation, digital territories, and digital transformation, with assignments intended to inform strategic, policy, and investment decisions.
Brand decisions
2012
DigiWorld Institute replaces DigiWorld ProgrammeStrategyBackground
After several years of developing DigiWorld publications, events, and collaborative work, IDATE consolidated the platform under a new institutional brand.
Action taken
The DigiWorld Institute name replaced the DigiWorld Programme designation.
Aftermath
The DigiWorld Institute became the principal brand for the organization’s think-tank and digital-economy activities, while remaining associated with IDATE.
2007
Creation of the DigiWorld ProgrammeStrategyBackground
The collaborative work previously organized through the IDATE Foundation was repositioned to align with the growing DigiWorld identity.
Action taken
IDATE renamed the foundation-related activity as the DigiWorld Programme.
Aftermath
The change strengthened the association between IDATE’s collaborative research, events, and digital-economy thought leadership.
2006
Adoption of the DigiWorld Summit brandStrategyBackground
IDATE sought a more internationally distinctive identity for its annual conference as its research and think-tank activities increasingly addressed the broader digital economy.
Action taken
The annual IDATE International Conference was rebranded as the DigiWorld Summit.
Aftermath
The summit became a principal public-facing event associated with the organization’s digital-economy platform.
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