The new name will better reflect the CEA’s research efforts in recent years in the field of low-carbon energy : nuclear, as well as solar energy, hydrogen production, fuel cells, electricity storage for residences and transportation and transforming biomass into biofuels.

Last June at the French institute of solar energy, the French President expressed his desire that the name of the CEA evolve to better reflect its circle of its activity and take account of the government's commitment to invest equally in nuclear and renewable energy. “For every euro spent on nuclear energy, another euro will be spent on research into clean energy,” he stated.

Created in 1945 by General de Gaulle, the CEA's original mission was to enable France to make the most of the atom in industry, research and defense. Today, the CEA is active in three main fields: global defense and security, innovative information and health technologies and low-carbon energy – nuclear and renewable energy. In these fields, this involves creating value and supporting economic development with excellent basic research.

The President declared during the press conference: “The CEA has unequaled technological prowess in the nuclear field, but also makes us worldwide leaders in research in solar energy, biofuels and energy storage… In the future, it is my hope that it continue in this direction and favor research into low-carbon energy...”

CEA KEY FIGURES:

- At the end of 2008, the CEA had 15,581 employees at 9 sites.

In 2008, the civilian programs of the CEA received 45% of their funding from the French government and 35% from external sources (partner companies, national incentive funding programs, local government and the European Union). The remaining 20% was provided from two funds dedicated to the clean-up of civilian and defense nuclear facilities.
The military programs are mainly funded directly by the French Ministry of Defense (90%).

In 2008, the CEA had a budget of 3.5 billion euros. This breaks down into :
- 2.1 billion euros for civil programs,
- 1.4 billion euros for defense programs.

Some key figures for the CEA in 2008 :
- a portfolio of 1,498 priority patents (or inventions) issued and in force,
- 526 priority patent applications filed,
- 109 new high-technology companies set up since 1984,
- 51 joint research units link the CEA to its research partners,
- 30 correspondent research laboratories (LRC) associated with the CEA.