The HERMES network was founded in November 1997 as an initiative of the Ecole de Management Strasbourg (former IECS) of the Robert Schuman University in Strasbourg. Three years later, on March 31st 2000, the HERMES Charter was voted on by the General Assembly in a ceremony at the European Parliament. The participating universities work closely together in defining their study programs, exchanging professors and organizing joint research projects. Each year, this network holds an Annual Conference at one of the partner universities, where common programs are defined and achievements are reported.