Emmanuelle Gouillart, Director General of ESPCI Paris – PSL since June 2026, has presented her three priorities for the school, focusing on environmental, technological, and societal transitions. She aims to consolidate scientific excellence, strengthen industry relations, and broaden scientific career paths to more diverse profiles.
During her first press conference, she highlighted the role of an engineering school and research center in addressing societal transformations. ESPCI is a place where today's discoveries prepare answers to tomorrow's major transitions.
Consolidating research and training excellence is a priority. ESPCI's laboratories, at the intersection of physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering, advance knowledge in fields essential for transitions. The school's model, combining fundamental research, research-based training, and innovation, is unique.
In the face of the rise of artificial intelligence, research-based training develops reasoning autonomy. ESPCI aims to increase access to its training model. The 2026 intake includes 93 new engineering students, 14 learners in the ACTION Master's program, and 51 students in the ST4Health Master's. Continuing education modules and the creation of a sustainable development directorate will also enhance offerings.
Intensifying relations with companies is another key focus. The PC’UP incubator and the PC Tech project bring together laboratories, startups, and large corporations within the Université PSL ecosystem. These collaborations help raise awareness of the skills of engineers and doctors trained at ESPCI.
Opening scientific career paths to more diverse profiles, regardless of gender or social background, is also a priority. Initiatives such as school outreach, the Fête de la science, and a science camp for high school girls aim to encourage more young women to pursue science, currently representing 30 to 40% of engineering students. One-third of students benefit from the Joliot scholarship for better study conditions.
The Vauquelin campus, in the 5th arrondissement, supports these ambitions. The second phase of construction, scheduled for 2028, will include new lecture halls, a library, and green spaces. These developments aim to strengthen ESPCI's ties with the city and its territory, in collaboration with the Ville de Paris and Université PSL.
Emmanuelle Gouillart wants ESPCI to be more recognized as a place of science within the city, creating opportunities for interaction and demonstrating how research can help address everyday challenges.
