2018
Annual report
President's message
Eric Labaye
President of École Polytechnique
It was a great honor for me to become president of École Polytechnique
in 2018, a year that once again proved l’X’s exceptional strengths, which
account for its unchallenged position in France and its reputation and
standing around the world.
This institution, whose history of service
to the nation goes back over two hundred years, has been engaged in
profound transformations in recent years. Its degree programs are now
aligned with international standards, its research center is a catalyst
for discoveries and innovation, and both its partnerships with the
most highly reputed international universities and its entrepreneurial
activities are constantly on the rise.
The year 2018 was very rich in achievements, projects, and changes. It
was marked by the opportunity to celebrate exceptional events, such
as the Nobel Prize awarded to Gérard Mourou, a first since Henri
Becquerel in 1903.
This Nobel Prize is testimony to the excellence
of researchers and the quality of fundamental research with notable
applications developed at École Polytechnique.
2019, the 225th anniversary of École Polytechnique, promises to be
equally dynamic and places l’X’s ambitions on a naturally high level.
The transformations started in recent years will have to be pursued
and amplified.
Ensuring an international approach, the development
of the institution’s own resources, the flexibility of internal operations,
and increased diversity, while continuing to enhance research and
innovation and improve programs are clearly the pivots that will allow
the institution’s aspiration to world leadership to become a concrete
reality.
L’X also has as its ambition to be a key player in the newly
formed Institut Polytechnique de Paris, which is positioning itself
worldwide for greater visibility of its educational programs, its research
centers, and its incubator networks.
Research
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Education
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Entrepreneurship
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International
École Polytechnique is pursuing its internationalization
through a strong policy of partnerships and activities enhancing
its presence abroad.
In order to offer the best education
and encourage international exchange, l’X signed 18 mobility
agreements in 2018 with historic partners, such as École Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, and with new partners, attracted
by the new portfolio of programs offered in English at l’X, such
as HKUST in Hong‑Kong.
On June 7th, l’X joined EuroTech, a strategic
partnership of leading universities of science & technology: composed
of DTU in Denmark, EPFL, Eindhoven University of Technology, and
TUM, which is developing strong relationships and tackling major
social challenges through ambitious collaborations. In the same spirit,
the Alliance Program organized an international symposium in Paris,
entitled “Bridging Ideas” for researchers to exchange ideas about major
challenges such as overcrowding, water shortages, and unemployment.
This program brings together Columbia University, École Polytechnique,
Université Paris 1, and Sciences Po to develop collaborations through
joint projects, invitations to researchers, PhD mobility grants, and
student initiatives.
Finally, on December 20, with its foundation
and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, l’X established a chair
in “Data Science & Industrial Processes” in Morocco. With support
from the OCP Group in Morocco, it will train a new generation of
engineers in the use of data sciences and developing innovative
industrial processes.
Corporate Connections
In 2018, l’X continued to reinforce its ties with the industrial world. Ten new teaching and
research chairs were created in partnership with major French and international companies.
Two of the chairs are in the banking sector: the Stress Test, Risk Management and Financial
Steering Chair set up with BNP Paribas aims at finding solutions that meet the requirements of
banking regulators; the Business Analytics for Future Banking Chair with Natixis focuses on enhancing
bank efficiency through data.
The Data Science and Industrial Processes Chair was established
in partnership with the Moroccan company OCP, and the Design and Modeling of Innovative Materials
was set up with Arkema with a view to inventing the materials of the future. An Econophysics
and Complex Systems Chair was also created in collaboration with CFM Fund Management.
Total
joined forces with l’X to establish the Technology Challenges for Responsible Energy Chair, and the
consulting firm Capgemini did the same for the Blockchain & B2B Platforms Chair. In the field of
artificial intelligence, l’X established partnerships with Google, Idemia, and the electric grid operator
Enedis. In the field of large retailing, École Polytechnique and Carrefour set up a New Gen Ret
All Chair.
Finally, Ubisoft joined forces with l’X to create the Science and Video Games Chair and,
in the field of health, the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation supported the biomedical innovation
program to foster collaborations between researchers and physicians.
JANUARY - FEBRUARY - MARCH
RESEARCH SCIENTISTS MADE THE FRONT PAGE OF NATURE
The science journal Nature devoted the front page of the February 8,
2018 issue to the work of Tahar Amari and Aurélien Canou,
from the Center of Theoretical Physics at l’X, on predicting
the maximum potential energy released by solar flares.
AN EXPANDED OFFERING OF MOOCS
With five micro-Moocs in mathematics and four others on solar
energy, plastic electronics, the infinitely small and the infinitely big,
and quantum mechanics, l’X has expanded its offering of online courses
aimed essentially at undergraduates and young students.
SECOND YEAR OF LEAD ACADEMY CLASSES
Twenty-one participants were part of the second year of classes
at the LEAD Academy, a program aimed at future leaders started
last year by l’X with Google and PwC.
A CHAIR FOR THE STUDY OF SEMI-CONDUCTORS
L’X created the ANR Pistol Industrial Research Chair, with ANR,
the CNRS, and Total. The goal is to develop new plasma treatment
processes for semi-conductors leading to new applications in
photovoltaics and microelectronics.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CNAM FOR THE STUDY OF HEALTH DATA
L’X renewed its research and development partnership with
the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM), which began in 2014.
Researchers develop algorithms for data processing with an eye
to improving health product monitoring.
STARTUPS TAKE CENTER STAGE AT THE X-AFRIQUE FORUM
Entrepreneurs, investors, and politicians came together at the X-Afrique
Forum to focus on “new technologies for Africa”. Some twenty‑odd
Africa-dedicated startups came to present their projects in the
framework of a pitch contest.
APRIL - MAY - JUNE
L’X AND THE CNRS RENEW THEIR RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP
The CNRS and École Polytechnique renewed, for the second time,
their quadrennial research partnership, signed in 2009, that defines their
collaboration in joint research units for their joint laboratories.
MENINGITIS DECIPHERED USING FLUID MECHANICS
A research scientist and professor at l’X, part of a consortium whose
article about the behavior of bacteria responsible for meningitis,
describing it as similar to that of a viscous fluid, was published
in the science journal Cell.
DATA SCIENCE HAS ITS SUMMER SCHOOL
For the second year in a row, l’X and Dataia Institute organized
their Data Science Summer School. This week of conferences and
workshops was marked by the presence of Cédric Villani and many
experts in data science and artificial intelligence.
ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE JOINS EUROTECH ALLIANCE OF UNIVERSITIES
L’X became the fifth member to join the EuroTech Alliance, whose
other members are Technical University of Denmark (DTU), École
Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Eindhoven University of
Technology (TU/e), and Technical University of Munich (TUM).
UBER PARTNERS WITH L'X TO CREATE AN “INTEGRATED URBAN MOBILITY” CHAIR
Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s CEO, announced during a visit to the
campus the creation of an international academic and research chair
with l’X to study integrated urban mobility. The research projects will
concentrate on optimization and artificial intelligence in aviation
and all-electric vehicles.
MUS’X, A MUSEUM AT ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE
Mus’X is a newly opened exhibition space on campus housing the
historical collections of École Polytechnique.
L'X AT VIVA TECHNOLOGY
L’X, its accelerator and its incubator were once again present at Viva
Technology, for the third edition of the fair. On this occasion, 16 new
startups from the Center of Innovation were represented at the stand.
JULY - AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
A SCIENCE CAMP FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Forty high school students came from all over France to attend a science
camp organized in July by the Diversity and Success Division of l’X.
L’X STARTUPS STAND OUT
Exotrail, Altaroad and Accenta, three l’X startups, are among the
64 winners of the i-Lab award for the best new startups
created less than 18 months ago.
NATURAL SELECTION APPLIED TO MACHINES
Three l’X students presented their research in Tokyo on genetic
and evolutionary algorithmsthat reproduce the mechanisms
of natural selection.
ERIC LABAYE, NEW PRESIDENT OF ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE
Eric Labaye, named president of École Polytechnique
Board of Directors on August 3, took office on September 17.
L’X, 2nd BEST SMALL UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD
Times Higher Education ranked École Polytechnique second in world’s
best small universities, immediately behind Caltech and ahead of
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa.
L’X GETS INVOLVED IN A PROJECT FOR THE 2024 OLYMPICS
L’X is leading the Sciences 2024 project that brings together 11 higher
education institutions and CNRS for the purpose of enhancing athletic
performance through science. The objective is to increase the number
of medals won by French athletes in the Olympics and Paralympics
to be held in Paris in 2024.
TWO NEW MASTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS
École Polytechnique created a new Master of Science and Technology
program in artificial intelligence and the treatment of visual
information as well as a program in cybersecurity.
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER - DECEMBER
THE CREATION OF INSTITUT POLYTECHNIQUE DE PARIS
The directors and heads of École Polytechnique, ENSTA ParisTech,
ENSAE ParisTech, Télécom ParisTech and Télécom SudParis signed
a cooperation agreement for the creation of NewUni, renamed Institut
Polytechnique de Paris in February 2019.
GÉRARD MOUROU, NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS 2018
Gérard Mourou, professor and member of Haut-Collège at École
Polytechnique, was awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics, an
award he shares with Donna Strickland and Arthur Ashkin for their
inventions in the field of lasers.
FOUR NEW CHAIRS
Four new chairs were created in the last trimester: with Arkema
for innovative materials, with BNP Paribas for financial risk
management, with the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation for
biomedical innovation, and with Total for responsible energy.
L’X, PRAISED BY RECRUITERS
The Times Higher Education ranked École Polytechnique
30th in 2018 for the most employable graduates.
TWO RESEARCHERS WIN THE L’ORÉAL-UNESCO AWARD
Sabrina Ouazzani, post-doctoral student at l’X’s Computer Science
Lab, and Olga Chashchina, PhD student at l’X’s Hydrodynamic
Laboratory won a L'Oréal-UNESCO research fellowship for Women
in Science.
L’X STUDENTS CALL FOR AN “ENVIRONMENTAL AWAKENING”
A third-year student at l’X is at the origin of a manifesto for an
“environmental awakening” launched by students from five grandes
écoles, including École Polytechnique. The manifesto has been signed
to date by nearly 30,000 students in France and abroad.
L’X TAKES A STAND AGAINST SEXISM
Together with 29 major companies, École Polytechnique signed a
pledge of commitment to fight against sexism in the workplace.
FIRST CLASSES GRADUATE FROM TWO NEW PROGRAMS
In December, the first classes graduated from two new Master programs:
the Master of Science and Technology and the Executive Master
for senior executives.
Institut Polytechnique de Paris
A new milestone was reached in 2018 in forging the
new establishment composed of École Polytechnique,
ENSTA ParisTech, ENSAE ParisTech,
Télécom ParisTech and Télécom SudParis.
On October 4, one year after the President of the French
Republic announced the creation of a higher education and
research institution formed by these five grandes écoles, its
founding members signed a partnership agreement.
The purpose is to build a world-class science and technology
institution informed by an international approach to higher
education and research. The new institution proposes
to develop one of the world’s top research and education
programs, readable and attractive, guaranteeing excellent
employability and aimed at a variety of students and professionals:
Bachelor's degree, Engineering courses of study,
Master's degree, PhD and continuing education.
The definitive brand name of the institution was unveiled
in February 2019. Together the schools are named Institut
Polytechnique de Paris. A steering committee has been set
up to ensure the successful implementation of this new
establishment.
Prefiguring the executive committee of the
Institut Polytechnique de Paris, this committee is made up
of the executive directors of the five schools and is chaired
by Eric Labaye, president of the École Polytechnique.
Les Finances / Finances
