In May 2001, Jean-Pierre Sicard, then Manager of the Strategic Watch Department of Caisse des Dépôts, launched Novethic. The aim was to promote Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) funds in France and to raise awareness amongst companies of the growing environmental and social concerns of investors. At the time, slightly over forty SRI funds were marketed in France and only a few companies had anticipated the national legislations on such issues in Europe and in the United States.

The novethic.fr website was launched six months later, in October 2001. With a focus on sustainable development, the website quickly became the source of information on SRI investment products and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) developments for a French speaking audience.

During this time, Novethic developed a research study stream. In May 2002, the report "Socially Responsible Investment: Current Situation and Outlook for the French Institutional Market" was published as Novethic's first SRI study. In September 2002 "Companies and sustainable Development: Strategic Impacts" was issued as the first CSR study. Since then, Novethic has increased its development of dedicated reports and tools to stimulate debates on issues relating to CSR and SRI with a permanent concern for promoting the implementation of environmental, social and governance issues. In October 2006, for its fifth birthday, Novethic.fr had over 100,000 visitors per month. In November 2007, Novethic launched novethic.com for its English-speaking audience.

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