The ceremony formalizing Bernard Arnault’s sponsorship of École Polytechnique’s Institute of Mathematics and Fundamental Sciences project took place on July 2 at the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris, attended by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin, and numerous prominent figures from the political and academic worlds. This institute will host an ambitious program of research and scientific collaborations. Its future building, to be located in the heart of the Palaiseau campus by 2030, will be funded by an exceptional donation of 50 million euros from Bernard Arnault (X69).
The Polymath Summer School held its second edition at École Polytechnique from June 15 to 26, organized by Guillaume Dubach, a Monge Professor at École Polytechnique and a member of the Laurent Schwartz Center for Mathematics. The program included master classes, group discussions, and math games designed to introduce students to research.
Mathematics, a historic hallmark of École Polytechnique, lies at the heart of many contemporary strategic and technological challenges. To strengthen its international influence in this field and foster interdisciplinary collaboration, École Polytechnique today announces the creation of an Institute of Mathematics and Fundamental Sciences, which will host an ambitious program of research and scientific collaboration. Its future building, to be located in the heart of the Palaiseau campus by 2030, will be funded through an exceptional €50 million donation from Bernard Arnault (X69).
École Polytechnique announces the launch of a new degree program for professionals committed to unlock the potential of artificial intelligence. The first class of this new Executive Specialized Master’s in AI is expected to begin in March 2027.
The winners of the 2026 edition of the Next40/FrenchTech 120 program, which supports the most promising French startups, were announced on June 17. One in three Next40 startups was founded, co-founded, or is led by an École Polytechnique alumnus; for the FrenchTech 120, the figure is nearly one in four.
Philippe Hazet, head of the École Polytechnique X-UP incubator, outlines the key considerations behind our participation in the 2026 edition of the Viva Technology trade fair. This major global event for innovation and new technologies will take place from 17 to 20 June at the Porte de Versailles in Paris.
Emmanuel Candès (X90) is a co-winner of the prestigious 2026 Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences. The Shaw Prizes, sometimes referred to as the “Asian Nobel Prizes,” honor scientists in three fields: astronomy, biological and medical sciences, and mathematics.
Arnaud Prost (X2012) is set to embark on his first space mission aboard Haven-1, the first commercial space station developed by the American startup Vast, for a test flight. Arnaud Prost will thus become the eleventh French citizen and the third École Polytechnique graduate to have flown in space.
École Polytechnique’s team won the 18th International Physics Tournament (IPT), for which it had qualified by winning the 13th French Physics Tournament. The IPT was held in the United States for the first time in 2026, hosted by Oklahoma State University from May 26 to 30.
École Polytechnique is expanding its artificial intelligence curriculum with a new mandatory AI course for all second-year students in the Cycle Ingénieur Polytechnicien program. Set to launch in September 2026, this new course aims to ensure that every future graduate of the Cycle Ingénieur Polytechnicien program possesses the essential skills to understand, apply, and critically evaluate a technology that is already redefining the boundaries of knowledge.
Philippe Tibi (X77), a professor of economics at École Polytechnique, has been leading an initiative since 2019, at the request of the French authorities, to mobilize private capital for the financing of disruptive technological innovation. He has just been tasked with overseeing the next phase of this initiative—which has raised more than 15 billion euros since its launch—and with expanding it to the European level.
The École polytechnique incubator is launching its 1st network events, Ecosystem Days, themed and open to all innovation players. On 30 November, the first event will focus on intellectual property and legal issues. We look forward to seeing you there!
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