École Polytechnique Establishes an Institute of Mathematics and Fundamental Sciences

École Polytechnique announces the creation of an Institute of Mathematics and Fundamental Sciences. This landmark initiative aims to strengthen the role of mathematics and fundamental sciences within the School while contributing to the international influence of French research.

Since the founding of École Polytechnique in 1794, mathematics has been one of the school’s hallmarks in the sciences. Through this new institute, École Polytechnique aims to provide a framework conducive to interdisciplinary exchange and the emergence of new scientific advances, particularly in fields at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, physics, materials science, and biology.

The Institute will be home to nearly 400 faculty members, doctoral students, and postdoctoral researchers from École Polytechnique. It will also benefit the entire academic ecosystem of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris and, more broadly, the Saclay campus, by fostering collaborations with partner higher education and research institutions.

“In the international landscape of higher education and research, France continues to stand out for its excellence in mathematics. This discipline is at the heart of our technological sovereignty and the foundation of many strategic fields, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and cybersecurity. This Institute project, made possible by the exceptional support of Bernard Arnault, will enable École Polytechnique to establish itself as one of the leading international centers for mathematical research, capable of attracting the best talent and fostering the discoveries that will shape the technologies of tomorrow," said Laura Chaubard, President and CEO of École Polytechnique.

A place dedicated to research and international exchange

At the heart of the project is a scientific program called “La Résidence mathématique.” Its purpose will be to host leading international researchers, organize conferences and thematic semesters, and support collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects.

The Institute will foster interactions among researchers, faculty, and students, enabling the latter to gain direct exposure to the latest developments in mathematics and the basic sciences. A scientific advisory board comprising leading international academics as well as representatives from the École Polytechnique and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris will soon be established to support the implementation of the scientific program and ensure its excellence.

Designed as a hub for scientific creativity, the Institute will also serve as a forum for dialogue across disciplines and between academic research and the socio-economic world. Its goal is to make École Polytechnique a leading international center for science.

An Exceptional Sponsorship for the “Serving Science” Campaign

The creation of the Institute has been made possible thanks to Bernard Arnault’s commitment through his family-owned company, Agache, which will finance the construction of the building as well as the launch of the “La Résidence mathématique” scientific program. This contribution of 50 million euros is part of the “Servir la science” fundraising campaign, launched by the École Polytechnique Foundation in 2024 to support the institution’s development.

In recognition of this commitment, the future building will be named the “Bernard Arnault Institute of Mathematics and Fundamental Sciences.” Located in the heart of the Palaiseau campus, it is scheduled to open by 2030 and will become a new landmark in the scientific life of École Polytechnique.

“To me, École Polytechnique embodies our country’s academic and scientific excellence, and I am proud to be able to contribute to the creation of this Institute of Mathematics and Fundamental Sciences. It was here at Polytechnique, while preparing for the entrance exams, that I learned intellectual rigor and developed the vision that went on to guide my career as an entrepreneur. "I also know how much mathematics and the basic sciences can shape the world by inventing tomorrow what no one can imagine today, particularly in addressing the major societal challenges we face. Through this Institute, École Polytechnique will continue this pursuit of excellence and scientific boldness," says Bernard Arnault.

Spanning five floors around a central garden and designed for very low energy consumption, the future building will be able to accommodate up to 1,200 people at a time. It will include seminar rooms, two auditoriums, an amphitheater—which will be named after Évariste Galois—a Faculty Club, and social spaces.

For École Polytechnique Foundation, this support represents a major milestone in the “Serving Science” campaign, which aims to strengthen the School’s capacity to educate, conduct research, and innovate at the highest international level.

“Thanks to the Bernard Arnault Institute for Mathematics and Fundamental Sciences, École Polytechnique will become a leading scientific institution. It is a tremendous asset for promoting France’s global influence, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the donor. This record-breaking donation to French academic research is particularly significant in the context of the Foundation’s third campaign, ‘Serving Science.’ At a time when global competition is particularly intense in the scientific, technological, and industrial fields, this Institute illustrates the significant impact of philanthropy and the strategic nature of the ties forged between École Polytechnique and economic stakeholders, both private and public," says Frédéric Oudéa, President of École Polytechnique Foundation.

As the first concrete step in this project, École Polytechnique will soon launch an architectural design competition to begin work on the future building, which is set to become one of the campus’s defining landmarks and a symbol of the institution’s scientific ambition for the decades to come.