François JACQ

CEO, CEA

François Jacq is a graduate from Ecole Polytechnique and holds a PhD of Ecole des Mines de Paris – MINES ParisTech. He began his career as a researcher at the Center for Sociology of Innovation (Mines-Paris Tech). He has held various management positions in the Ministry for Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Industry. In 2007 and 2008, he was appointed Advisor for Industry, Research and Energy and Advisor for Sustainable Development, Research and Industry to the French Prime Minister. He has headed several public institutions, starting in 2000 with the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (ANDRA). In April 2009, he became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Météo-France, the French national meteorological and climatological service. In 2013, he was appointed Chairman and CEO of Ifremer, the French research institute for the exploitation of the sea. He became Chairman and CEO of CEA in April 2018. He was elected as Chair of the European Association of Research and Technology Organizations (EARTO) in 2024.

On April 29, 2025, he was appointed member of the board of the National Center for Space Studies (CNES) by the Council of Ministers.

Anne L’Huillier

Nobel Prize in Physics 2023, CEA

After studying at the École Normale Supérieure in Fontenay-aux-Roses, Anne L'Huillier carried out her research at the Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA) in Saclay, in a laboratory specializing in the interaction between intense lasers and matter (now the Laboratoire Interactions, Dynamiques et Lasers - LIDYL). In 1987, she played a central role in the first observation of a spectacular process: the focusing of an intense infrared laser in a gas of atoms induces the emission of a large number of new “colors”, whose frequencies are multiples of the laser frequency (as in music, the harmonics of the fundamental note).

Since 1996, she has pursued her research at the University of Lund in Sweden, while cultivating fruitful links and numerous collaborations with the French community.

Anne L'Huillier has won numerous international awards, including the Wolf Prize 2022, the BBVA Prize 2023 and the Nobel Prize in Physics in October 2023, and has been elected to the Swedish, American and French Academies of Science. In addition to her community-building activities, she is heavily involved in teaching and mentoring, through which she passes on her enthusiasm for science. In this way, she has trained several generations of students and post-docs, who are now exploring the frontiers of this new field.

Théau Peronnin

Chief Executive Officer, Alice & Bob

​Théau Peronnin is a physicist by training, but most importantly, by vocation. He earned his master’s degree from the École Polytechnique in Paris and his PhD in quantum physics from the ENS Lyon. In 2020, his long-time work alongside Raphaël Lescanne on bit-flip-protected qubit design was published by Nature Physics. Soon thereafter, building on this groundbreaking work, they both founded Alice & Bob, with Théau as its CEO. Alice & Bob develops error-corrected quantum computers also known as FTQCs, to tackle all of quantum computing industrial applications.

Loic Henriet

CEO, PasQal

PasQal is a global leader in neutral atom Quantum Computing. Loïc Henriet holds an engineered degree and a PhD from Ecole Polytechnique. He notably worked on describing the emergence of collective quantum effects in light-matter systems at the Institute for Photonic Sciences (ICFO) in Barcelona. His interest in practical quantum technologies led him to join Pasqal in 2019. From its origins in a Paris laboratory to becoming a leading force in quantum technology, Pasqal has rapidly advanced the development of practical quantum processors. Today, Pasqal stands at the forefront of quantum innovation to solve complex computational challenges previously thought impossible with classical computing systems.

Philippe CHOMAZ

Scientific & Program Director, Fundamental Research Division, CEA

​Philippe Chomaz, a former student of the École normale supérieure (Paris), received his PhD in 1984 and immediately began his research career at CNRS in Orsay. From 1990 to 1991, he was a visiting scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory before returning to France to join the CEA in Caen as a researcher. In 2005, he became deputy director of GANIL (Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds), and from 2008 to 2015, he served as director of CEA-Irfu (Institute of Research into the Fundamental Laws of the Universe) at Saclay. In 2016, he was appointed Executive Scientific Director of the CEA’s Fundamental Research Division (DRF). Since 2021, he has held the roles of Scientific Director and Program Director of the DRF. Philippe Chomaz has published around 200 scientific papers in nuclear, quantum, and statistical physics, and has delivered over 100 invited talks at major international conferences. He is also active in science communication, through articles, books, TEDx talks, science cafés, and appearances on radio and television. Over the past 20 years, he has engaged with major European scientific organizations, including CERN, ESA, and ESO, and has led international cooperation initiatives within the EU Quantum Flagship.

Nicolas LARDJANE

Head of TGCC, CEA

After graduating from the University of Orléans, N. LARDJANE earned his PhD in Computational Fluid Mechanics in 2002. He then worked for an INRIA start-up on the development of large-scale HPC codes. In 2004, he joined CEA as a researcher in computational physics. He was in charge of various projects and collaborations combining HPC, physical modelling and practical applications, and led a research group on these themes. Since 2023, he is the Head of the TGCC (CEA’s very large computing centre) and manage several projects linked to HPC, AI and quantum computing for open science and industry.

Frédéric FEYEL

Head of Digital Sciences & Technologies, SAFRAN

F. FEYEL graduated from the École des Mines de Paris, spent 20 years conducting research at ONERA, obtained his PhD in 1998, and his Habilitation in 2006. He joined Safran Group with the creation of Safran Tech in 2014. VP of Digital Sciences & Technologies at Safran Tech (the research centre of Safran Group); in short, everything related to digital: digital physics (CFD, CSM, etc.), applied mathematics, AI, and various applications such as digital non-destructive testing, AI & autonomy, innovative digital sensors. Additionally, M. FEYEL is in charge of computing resources for Safran Group and Distinguished Expert in mechanical analysis and structural computation. He is Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at ENS Paris-Saclay.

Jacques-Charles LAFOUCRIERE

Programme manager, CEA

Jacques-Charles LAFOUCRIERE is programme director and senior fellow at CEA. He is in charge of High Performance Computing for the CEA/DAM Simulation programme which drives the design and the deployment of exascale class computing centres. Since thirty years he is involves in many aspects of high-performance as system administrator, system developer, architect, R&D project leader or team manager. Since 2021 he leads the French Hybrid HPC Quantum Initiative. His main expertise is on high performance storage and high performance computers. He was also a developer in OpenSource projects like Lustre and is involved in multiple European, projects like Human Brain Project, ICEI or SAGE. He hold an Engineering degree Ecole Centrale Paris.

Khouloud KARAM

Chief Operating Officer, GENVIA

Khouloud Karam is the Chief Operating Officer of Genvia since November 2023. Before joining Genvia, Khouloud was a Global Account Director at SLB (ex Schlumberger). Khouloud started her career with SLB in 2001 as a field engineer in UAE and has assumed various operational roles in the Middle East and Asia. Since 2006, she has held multiple management roles in business development, product development, manufacturing, technology lifecycle management, operations support as well as sales and marketing across different regions of the world. Khouloud earned a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the American University of Beirut and a master’s degree in oil and gas management from Heriot Watt University.

Fabrice STASSIN

Director government affairs electromobility projects, UMICORE

Fabrice holds a PhD in Chemistry & Materials Science as well as a MBA from the University of Liège in Belgium. After working in Strategy Consulting for a few years in Belgium, Netherlands and USA, Fabrice joined Umicore in 2008 as Innovation Manager in the field of clean energy and clean mobility technologies. Since 2012, he is part of the Brussels-based team of Umicore Government Affairs focusing on Electromobility Projects, be it based on batteries or hydrogen technologies. Fabrice was instrumental in the development of EMIRI (the Brussels-based association promoting Advanced Materials) which he managed for 5 years until 2018. Over the past years, Fabrice concentrated his activities on promoting the key enabling role of batteries, hydrogen technologies and recycling to decarbonize energy, mobility and industry. At Umicore, Fabrice is also in charge of coordinating the Asian Affairs. Since January 2024, Fabrice is part-time Secretary General of the Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA). Since January 2025, Fabrice is acting Chairman of IAMI, the Innovative Advanced Materials Initiative.

Jean-Michel RUGGIERI

Director of IRESNE (Research Institute on Nuclear System
for low carbon Energy), CEA

He is graduate of Marseille University as PhD in Applied Mathematics on numerical resolution of the Boltzmann neutron transport equation in 1995 and joins CEA in 1999. He held laboratory head positions on core physics for 6 years as well as severe accident studies for LWRs and SFRs for 4 years. During this period, he has also been head of a common CEA-China laboratory on severe accident mastering. Between 2013 and 2019, he was Head of Innovative System Studies Section in the Reactor Studies Department in CEA Cadarache. During this period, he was involved in design activities on SMR. He was also French representative in OECD/GIF, co-chairman of Sodium Fast Reactor System Steering Comity and has been strongly involved in the ASTRID Project. From 2019 to 2022, he was Manager of the SMR Program of the Nuclear Energy Division at CEA and specially involved in Nuward initiative. Since 2022, he is Director of the R&D Institute on Nuclear System for low carbon Energy at CEA Cadarache.

Patrick BLANC-TRANCHANT

Deputy Director of energy programs, CEA

Patrick Blanc-Tranchant is Deputy Director of Low Carbon Energy Programs at the CEA’s Energy Division (DES) since June 2024. With a Ph.D in neutronics following an engineering degree from Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Physique de Grenoble in France, he has a background in reactor physics and energy systems, and has held through his career several leadership roles at CEA/DES, including Head of the Systems and Structures Modelling R&D Department and Head of the Program dedicated to Numerical Simulation, as well as positions in International Affairs.

Albert heuberger,

Executive Director, Fraunhofer Integrated Circuits IIS

Jean-Luc DI-PAOLA-GALLONI

Corporate VP, Sustainable Development, Valeo

Jean-Luc joined Valeo in 2007 as CEO’s delegate and member of the Executive Committee, before becoming Group Corporate VP in charge of Sustainable Development, External Affairs, Technical Regulation and Collaborative Research.

Serving as Vice-Chairman since 2009 for the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC), the main automotive technology platform on collaborative research of the EU Commission, Jean-Luc is also a member of the Board of its contractual PPP European Green Vehicle Initiative (2ZERO).

In 2018 he was elected President of Artemis-IA INSIDE, the European association for the embedded systems industry & research actors in the Chips Joint Undertaking (the Joint Technology Initiative on Electronic Components & Systems of the EU part of the EU Chips Act) for which he is Chairman of the Private Members Board.

Jean-Luc is Vice President Member of the board and steering of CLEPA (European Association of Automotive Suppliers), and a member of the Corporate Partnership Board of the International Transport Forum (ITF), the forum of the Ministers of Transport of OECD and associated countries.

Julie GALLAND

Director of Technology Research, CEA

Julie Galland graduated from the École polytechnique, as chief engineer from Ecoles des Mines and holds a doctorate in solid state physics. Having started as a mission officer at the Nanoelectronics Office in 2012, Julie Galland worked in the Digital Economy Service and the Industry Service, and climbed the ranks within the DGE (Directorate General for Enterprises) to the position of Deputy Director for Space, Electronics, and Software.

She led, alongside her teams, pivotal initiatives promoting innovation and productive investment in the territory in the fields of electronic components, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, Cloud computing, High-Performance Computing (HPC), and Space. In these sectors, she contributed to the development of industries and the consideration of public policy directions, both through consultation and collective action with ecosystems, as well as through the implementation of legislative and regulatory texts.

Julie Galland is now director of CEA Research & Technology Division, bringing to the CEA her technical knowledge of the field and her experience in European and industrial negotiations, at a crucial time for the future of the CEA Research & Technology Division themes, particularly in the area of digital sovereignty."

Alexis AMADON

Research Director, CEA

Alexis Amadon got a BSc from Polytechnique Grenoble (1988 - Electrical Engineering), a MSc from Texas A&M Univ. (1989 - Nuclear Engineering), a PhD from Univ. Paris-Sud (1995 - High-Energy Physics), and "Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches" from Univ. Versailles Saint-Quentin (2014 - MRI Physics). Alexis worked in an IT service company (Steria) before completing doctoral studies in high-energy physics. He has been a research scientist at CEA since 1995, published in the fields of aerosol physics (1990), nuclear instrumentation (1995), particle physics (postdoc at the University of Chicago in 1995-97), observational cosmology (from 1999), and MRI physics (from 2006). He was co-founder and CTO of a multi-media startup (2000-02: Wiziway, developing the first paper hyperlink reader). From 2003, he embarked on a career in high-field MRI methodology targeting the human brain. He first trained with Denis Le Bihan and Vincent Lebon at CEA-Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot (Orsay), before becoming one of the pioneers of NeuroSpin’s brain imaging platform where he specialized in tackling MR image artifacts arising from Ultra High magnetic Fields (UHF). Inventor of a Radio-Frequency transmission method allowing spin excitation uniformity at UHF (so-called kT-points, 2010), licensed to Siemens Healthineers since 2020. Also holds a patent on a multi-coil array design method dedicated to homogenize the main field in the human brain (so-called SCOTCH, 2019). Was also system manager of NeuroSpin's 3-Tesla imager (2008-2019), collaborating with top neuroscientists using functional MRI. From 2019, he has been the head of NeuroSpin's R&D team in MRI instrumentation, after getting grants for the development of novel RF coils and B0-shim inserts. His research interests go from Ultra-High-Field MRI to cognitive neuroscience.

Anne JOUVENCEAU

Coordinator of Acceleration Strategies for Biotherapies, Biomanufacturing, and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Health Innovation Agency

Anne Jouvenceau is Coordinator of Acceleration Strategies for Biotherapies, Biomanufacturing, and Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Health Innovation Agency, part of the General Secretariat for Investment (SGPI) under the Prime Minister’s Office, which she joined in May 2023. She previously held senior leadership roles at Inserm, where she oversaw national initiatives in biotherapies, biomanufacturing, and international collaborations. She notably co-led the PEPR “Biotherapies and Biomanufacturing of Innovative Therapies” and contributed to the creation of a national genomic data repository for research and healthcare under the France Genomic Medicine Plan 2025.

From 2017 to 2021, Anne served as Deputy CEO and Interim CEO of Genopole, a leading biocluster dedicated to biotechnology and genomics. Earlier in her career, she was Head of the Program Evaluation and Monitoring Department and of the International Affairs Department at Inserm, and acted as Health and Life Sciences Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Research between 2012 and 2014.

Anne began her career at Aviesan, coordinating scientific strategy for neuroscience research. She holds a PhD in Life Sciences – Biology of Aging from Sorbonne University (formerly UPMC – Paris VI) and has been a Research Director at Inserm since 2015.

Alexandre CASTEAU

Head of Strategy & Corporate Development, ONWARD Medical

Alexandre Casteau brings extensive healthcare corporate strategy expertise. A former management consultant with McKinsey & Company, Alexandre spent several years advising global life science businesses on growth strategy and large-scale transformations. He also launched and led the McKinsey Switzerland startup/scaleup service line, providing a differentiated strategy consulting offering to help early-stage, fast-growing companies scale. Earlier in his career, Alexandre held a variety of roles at Endeavor, Rocket Internet SE and Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MSc. from MIT.

Anne-Isabelle ETIENVRE

Director of Fundamental Research, CEA

Anne-Isabelle Etienvre graduated from École Normale Supérieure de Paris-Saclay with a degree in physics and later obtained a Ph.D. in particle physics. She conducted research in the field of particle physics, notably working at CERN. After serving on several scientific boards and committees, she was appointed in 2012 as the coordinator of the Laboratory of Excellence (LabEx) P2IO (Physique des 2 Infinis et des Origines), which focused on the physics of the infinitely small, the infinitely large, and the study of the conditions for the emergence of life. Anne-Isabelle joined the CEA in 2003 at the Department of Particle Physics, where she became Director in 2014. In 2016, she was appointed Director of the Institute for Research on the Fundamental Laws of the Universe (Irfu), a position she held for six years. From 2022 to 2023, she served as a Research Adviser to the French Minister of Research. Since November 6, 2023, she has been the Director of Fundamental Research at the CEA.”