"Start by doing what's necessary;
then do what's possible;
and suddenly you are doing the impossible. "
Saint Francis Assisi
An Unorthodox Career
for an
Atypical Profile
Originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Paulo MOURA has built an extensive international career. He moved to France in 2013 as part of his company's expansion. Today, this Franco-Brazilian is widely recognized as an international expert in Human Smart Cities, local economic development, and innovation valorization. Paulo describes his journey as unconventional, driven entirely by his passion.
His passion extends to innovation, creativity, and exploration, as well as fostering connections and meaningful relationships. Paulo Moura has navigated through various realms, including education, research, business, industry, and finance. He firmly believes that innovation stems from the convergence of diverse disciplines and domains.
Paulo advocates that authentic progress emerges from blending diverse ideas and perspectives. His vision for creating equitable, smarter, more connected, and vibrant communities relies on the harmonious interplay between various fields. He believes that prosperity hinges on the value added through innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.
Paulo Moura, the Deputy Director of Innovation and Partnerships at Université Côte d'Azur / IMREDD, coordinates initiatives spanning Mobility, Risk and Resilience, Data Governance, and Local Economic Development. His core responsibility is designing, fundraising, and executing projects through partnership building and knowledge management to drive local economic advancement. Additionally, he spearheads the international smart cities initiative.
Furthermore, he holds the position of Chairholder for the " Chaire Territoires & Navettes Autonomes," focusing on leveraging autonomous vehicles for local economic development. He co-founded the "Atelier Experimental d'Urbanisme," an initiative focused on reimagining the future of cities globally. Paulo also founded "The Security Design Lab" (SDL), fostering international collaboration among Research Entities, Innovation Centers, Competitiveness Poles, Governments, and Companies to disseminate cybersecurity knowledge. He is also a member of the Scientific Council of the l'Alliance pour la Décarbonation de la Route.
With over two decades of expertise in strategic consulting, fundraising, and operations management, Paulo has been extensively involved in technology transfer projects and leading smart city endeavors. Notably, he founded JOIN Advisory in 2008, overseeing its sale in 2019. Presently, he manages JOIN GROUP, directing its focus toward Real Estate and Impact Investments, as well as public research valorization. He also served as the coordinator of INSPER's smart city study group.
His earlier roles include serving as Head of Purchasing and Supply Chain at Contax and CSU, Market Strategist at Abril, and an analyst in Institutional Sales at JP Morgan.
Throughout his career, Paulo has demonstrated a knack for conceiving and executing impactful large-scale projects, emphasizing strategic partnerships, market intelligence, and fundraising. Each venture prioritizes local economic development, rooted in knowledge management and resilience principles. Key initiatives like Economic Development Through Regional Resilience (AMVE) in Brazil, Economic Development of the Centre Ville in Cannes, and AMI – France 2030 "Parc Méridia" in Nice | Eco Vallée - Opération d'intérêt national underscore his commitment.
Paulo holds a PhD in Economics from Université Côte d’Azur/CNRS - GREDEG and an MSc in Engineering for Smart Cities from Institut Méditerranéen du Risque de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable. His academic background is further strengthened by expertise in finance, strategic planning, and law, acquired through his studies at PUC-SP and FGV-RJ.