Radiant is a rapidly growing green tech start-up that specialises in producing carbon-free heat for industrial use. It won first prize in the European Stage Two competition, representing École Polytechnique, and successfully raised funds at the end of last year. Meet its two founders: Thomas Delhon, an aerospace engineer, and Alexandre Meurisse, a former PhD student at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) laboratories. They received support from École Polytechnique's X-UP incubator, which provided a springboard for their success.
Named “AI for Markets and Quantitative Investments” (MaQI), this new master's program complements École Polytechnique's AI training offerings. It aims to help position France as a center of excellence in finance training in the age of AI. The program will begin in September 2026.
From middle school to higher education, a variety of support measures can be implemented to encourage and assist women in achieving success in science. On Monday, 26 January, Juliette Toumelin (Head of the Equal Opportunities Division within the Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Responsibility Department) and Antigoni Alexandrou (CNRS Research Director at LOB) discussed the mentoring programmes available at École Polytechnique and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris.
Since its creation in 2009, the Mathematical Modelling and Biodiversity Chair (MMB), supported by École Polytechnique and its Foundation, in collaboration with the National Museum of Natural History and supported by Veolia, has been exploring the major challenges of biodiversity at the interface between applied mathematics and ecology. Through interdisciplinary research programmes, scientific meetings and training initiatives, the Chair brings together nearly 150 experts from international laboratories and research institutions to address fundamental questions about population dynamics, evolution and ecosystem resilience.
Nicolas Roche, the Secretary-General for Defence and National Security (SGDSN), spoke to engineering students from the X23 and X24 classes about the latest 'National Strategic Review', which was coordinated by the SGDSN. He emphasised the importance of paragraph 112 of the review, which summarises the central scenario of the French authorities – preparing for war – and encouraged Polytechnique students to play their full part in it.
Arthur Mensch (X2011), co-founder and CEO of Mistral, the French AI gem, came to meet École Polytechnique students for a talk on entrepreneurship and the implications of AI, two topics which he addressed by echoing his School's motto: “For the Nation, for Sciences, and for Glory.”
Bertrand Bessagnet, a CNRS Research Director affiliated with École Polytechnique, conducted the first study on air quality modeling at such resolution over Bhutan. Using the cutting-edge CHIMERE model, the research study was conducted in collaboration with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and the Jigme Singye Wangchuck Law University in Bhutan. The findings of the research study have now been published.
Clémie Teston is studying for a dual degree at École Polytechnique and HEC Paris. This programme enables her to pursue her passion for science, particularly mathematics, while developing her management skills. This year, she organised the X-Forum with almost 60 École Polytechnique students, putting her knowledge to good use. This annual, two-day event is entirely dedicated to employability and student–business relations.
The Biomedical Engineering (BME) Seed Grant sponsorship programme, led by Abdul Barakat and supported by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation and École Polytechnique and its Foundation, will come to an end in late 2025, after nearly seven years dedicated to innovation in biomedical engineering. On 20 November, during the 4th annual forum of the Engineering for Health (E4H) Interdisciplinary Centre, a dedicated session honoured the 11 winning projects, celebrated the advances they have enabled and highlighted the scientific and human impact of this structuring programme.
Some fluorescent molecules used to produce microscopic images of biological processes cause the cells into which they are introduced to stiffen. This phenomenon has just been demonstrated and quantified by a collaboration involving the Hydrodynamics Laboratory (LadHyX*). He is featured on the cover of the journal Cell Reports Physical Science.
The Financial Risk Chair, hosted by the Risk Foundation, led by Nicole El Karoui, professor emeritus at Sorbonne University, alongside Huyên Pham, professor at École Polytechnique, and supported by Société Générale, École des Ponts, École Polytechnique and its Foundation, and Sorbonne University, offers an excellent teaching program combining mathematics and finance. It provides students with unique opportunities to meet key players in the financial markets and discuss the place and role of quantitative profiles.
The X-Forum, an annual event dedicated to employability and bringing together students from École Polytechnique and Institut Polytechnique de Paris with companies, took place on November 25 and 26. More than 150 companies were able to interact with nearly 2,000 participants, including 1,000 École Polytechnique students.