The year 2025 has been proclaimed International Year of Quantum Science and Technology by the United Nations. In the 20th century, quantum mechanics radically changed the way we think about the physical world. Today, quantum physics is in the midst of a renaissance that is opening up new and unexpected applications. Laurent Sanchez-Palencia, Director of Research at the Center for Theoretical Physics (CPHT*) and Deputy Director of the Quantum-Saclay center, gives us an overview of this “second quantum revolution”.
The final of Institut Polytechnique de Paris' Ma Thèse en 180 secondes competition took place on Wednesday April 2 at École Polytechnique. Amélie Kies, doctoral student at the Applied Optics Laboratory (LOA*), Laure Corazza, doctoral student at the Dynamic Meteorology Laboratory (LMD*), Maxime Vigoureux from the Organic Synthesis Laboratory (LSO*) and Louis Berthier, from the Center for Applied Mathematics (CMAP*) were rewarded.
The goal of the QCMX Lab is to explore the quantum properties of electronic circuits and matter. Its strategy consists in coupling superconducting circuits normally used to process quantum information to materials in order to probe their quantum properties and discover new electronic states of matter.
Claire Fauvarque Nuytten (X2009), responsible for new elastomer process developments within the the French tire company Michelin Group's R&D department, was awarded the Pierre Faurre 2024 prize on March 26, 2025. In particular, she has developed a patented sustainable elastomer that is now essential for reducing the energy consumption of Michelin products.
Plasana Medical, founded in 2022 by Yves Matton, an entrepreneur in the Technofounders startup studio, and co-founded by Antoine Rousseau, Director of Research at the Plasma Physics Laboratory (LPP*) at École polytechnique, has won recognition for its innovative cold plasma technology. This innovation earned the company a place in Le Point's Palmarès des Inventeurs 2025, a prestigious award for entrepreneurs whose technological advances are transforming everyday life.
A study by a team from the Structural Biology of the Cell Laboratory (BIOC*), with the participation of the Molecular Chemistry Laboratory (LCM*), published in Nature communications, reveals the mechanisms that initiate translation of the genetic code into proteins in an archaea. This result supports the hypothesis that eukaryotes emerged from the archaeal domain during evolution.
Currently under construction at two sites in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTA) will be the world's largest array of telescopes capable of detecting high-energy gamma rays. The Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet (LLR*) is heavily involved in this project.
Professor in the Department of Mechanics at École polytechnique, Caroline Cohen carries out her research at the Hydrodynamics Laboratory (LadHyX*), at the interface between science and sport. In particular, she helped athletes and federations prepare for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Stilla Technologies, co-founded and managed by Rémi Dangla (X2005), specializes in developing high-precision genetic analysis systems for research and medical diagnostics. Twelve years after its creation, the company was acquired by the American Bio-Rad Laboratories.
X2009 and a PhD in biophysics from the Hydrodynamics Laboratory (LadHyX*), Olga Chashchina is co-founder and CTO of Metyos, a start-up that designs connected biomedical sensors.
Alliance Visiting professor at École Polytechnique, Reshmi Mukherjee, research professor at Barnard College of Columbia University, has developed her joint research with Deirdre Horan, researcher at the Leprince-Ringuet laboratory for particle physics and astrophysics (LLR), focusing on blazars. Moreover, her visit and exchanges with the LLR research team has further strengthened the ties between the astrophysics research groups at l’X and Columbia.
Pilar Acosta is a professor in the Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship Department at École Polytechnique. Her research focuses on Corporate Social Responsibility and their practices in the context of sustainable development.
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