Nine startups incubated at X-Up, École Polytechnique’s incubator, were present at the VivaTech 2026 trade show, which celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. Polytech students interning at the Orange Group also participated in a roundtable discussion with Chrystelle Heydemann (X94), CEO of the telecommunications and digital services provider, on the topic of digital sovereignty.
Three Master of Science & Technology students won this year's EuroTeQaThon with their project. The international student competition organised by the European university alliance EuroTeQ took place from 13 to 15 June 2026 at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). This first-place finish at the EuroTeQaThon marks a first for l'X since the competition was created.
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.
Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Sustainable Development
When they founded the start-up Jane in 2023, Simon Heurtebise and Nathan Bouldoires wanted to be part of an increasingly significant initiative: collective self-consumption. With their software, they simplify the administrative management of these complex projects and thus contribute to the green transition by promoting the sharing of renewable energy, particularly solar power. In 2024–2025, they received support from École polytechnique’s incubator, X-UP, which enabled them to bring their idea to fruition. This support demonstrates the importance École polytechnique places on supporting projects that are meaningful and beneficial to society.
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.
Entrepreneurship, Corporate relations, Innovation, Sustainable Development
There is something paradoxical about the current state of green technologies. Investment figures are down. The number of new GreenTech startups, after flirting with record highs, has leveled off. And yet, in laboratories, prototyping workshops, and DeepTech incubators, the buzz is palpable. Perhaps even more intense than ever. GreenTech isn't running out of steam; it's mutating
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!
With more than 230 start-ups supported over the past ten years, École Polytechnique and its incubator, X-UP, are contributing to the growth of European entrepreneurship. Interdisciplinary research centres, support services, the X-FAB prototyping facility and the presence of entrepreneurs in the business incubator make the École Polytechnique’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation a unique environment that fosters creativity. Project leaders – whether they are students or researchers from École Polytechnique, other institutions within the Institut polytechnique de Paris, or from further afield – will find this the ideal place to bring their ideas to life.
The École polytechnique incubator is looking for its new Promo for its X-UP CREATE support package for innovative technology start-ups in the seed stage.
Ekaterina Kukhtenko's start-up, VAir, aims to make respiratory infection diagnosis easier using a portable, ultra-fast device that analyses patients' exhaled air directly. Born out of the Covid-19 pandemic, this idea has the potential to help millions of people around the world, particularly in developing countries. It has been brought to fruition with the support of the École Polytechnique incubator.
Entrepreneurship, Corporate relations, Innovation, Sustainable Development
Teams from the École Polytechnique incubator, X-UP, attend the ChangeNOW exhibition, taking place from 30 March to 1 April at the Grand Palais in Paris. This event focuses on sustainable development and green technology innovations. Last year, it attracted 40,000 visitors, 10,000 companies, and 1,000 high-impact solutions.
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