Paris-Saclay Summit 2026 – Choose Science

A major highlight of research and innovation, this unique event brings science into dialogue with the pressing challenges of our time. Like a laboratory of ideas, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers come together to exchange perspectives, debate, and imagine the solutions of tomorrow.

Designed to inform future decisions and explore the frontiers of knowledge, the Summit offers diverse perspectives on key themes: health, artificial intelligence, the environment, industrial innovation, and the future of European research.

Programme

• Open sessions for all, offering insights into French and international scientific and technological excellence.
• Universal themes at the heart of current transitions: health, climate, energy, AI, transport, space, food, and ecological transition.

Find the full programme at this link 

Université Paris-Saclay will be represented by:

• Mathilde Aguiar, PhD student in Computer Science at the Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Digital Sciences (Lisn - Univ. Paris-Saclay/CentraleSupélec/CNRS/Inria);

• Amandine Aftalion, mathematician, CNRS research director at the Laboratoire de mathématiques d’Orsay (LMO - Univ. Paris-Saclay/CNRS/Inria);

• Sarah Antier, astrophysicist and lecturer-researcher at Université Paris-Saclay, member of the Laboratoire de physique des 2 infinis - Irène Joliot-Curie (IJCLab - Univ. Paris-Saclay/CNRS/Univ. Paris-Cité);

• Cécile Appert-Rolland, physicist, CNRS research director at the Laboratoire de physique des 2 infinis - Irène Joliot-Curie (IJCLab - Univ. Paris-Saclay/CNRS/Univ. Paris-Cité);

• Jean-Marc Ayoubi, professor - hospital practitioner in obstetrics and gynaecology, vice-dean of the Simone Veil Faculty of Medicine at UVSQ, member of the National Academy of Medicine;

• Léa Baubant, PhD student in paleoclimatology, specialising in the reconstruction of past climates, glaciology (Antarctica and Greenland), micropalaeontology and palynology, at the Laboratoire des sciences du climat et de l’environnement (LSCE - Univ. Paris-Saclay/CEA/CNRS/UVSQ) and the Geosciences Paris-Saclay laboratory (Geops – Univ. Paris-Saclay/CNRS);

• Anne-Sophie Beauvais, Director-General of the Université Paris-Saclay Foundation;

• Marie-Hélène Carron, PhD student in laser physics at the Laboratoire de physique des 2 infinis - Irène Joliot-Curie (IJCLab - Univ. Paris-Saclay/CNRS/Univ. Paris-Cité);

• Anne Cornillon, PhD student in planetary science and volcanology at the Geosciences Paris-Saclay laboratory (Geops - Univ. Paris-Saclay/CNRS);

• Clotilde Coron, professor of management sciences and Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Université Paris-Saclay;

• Matthieu Dellavalle, PhD student in astrophysics and fundamental physics (DPHY - Univ. Paris-Saclay/ONERA);

• Cécile Denis, director of the Haemostasis, Inflammation and Thrombosis unit (HITh - Univ. Paris-Saclay/Inserm);

• Inès Doublier, winner of the Audace Prize at the Starthèse start-up pitch-ID 2025, Microbiology of Food for Health laboratory (Micalis - Univ. Paris-Saclay/INRAE/AgroParisTech);

• Philippe Domenech, professor - hospital practitioner in psychiatry and neuroscience, director of the Neuromodulation Institute, researcher at Unicog (Univ. Paris-Saclay/Inserm/CEA/CNRS);

• Alexis Elbaz, neurologist, Inserm research director at the Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (Cesp - Univ. Paris-Saclay/UVSQ/Inserm);

• David Elbaz, astrophysicist, CEA research director, scientific director of the Astrophysics / Astrophysics, Instrumentation, Modelling Department (DAp/AIM - Univ. Paris-Saclay/CNRS/CEA/Univ. Paris-Cité);

• Benoît Fiorina, physicist, professor at CentraleSupélec, researcher at the EM2C laboratory, director of the SMEMAG Doctoral School at Université Paris-Saclay;

• Gaia Gentile, top winner of the Starthèse start-up pitch-ID 2025, Structure and Instability of Genomes laboratory (String - CNRS/Inserm/MNHN);

• Léa-Lise Gisselmann, PhD student at the Ecology, Society and Evolution laboratory (Ese - Univ. Paris-Saclay/AgroParisTech/CNRS);

• Marc Humbert, pulmonologist, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Université Paris-Saclay, director of the Pulmonary Hypertension unit, winner of the Inserm Grand Prize 2025;

• Lucas Jacquier, PhD student in conservation ecology at the Ecology, Society and Evolution laboratory (Ese - Univ. Paris-Saclay/AgroParisTech/CNRS);

• Louis Le Berre, PhD student in robotics at the Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics (Isir - Sorbonne Université/CNRS/Inserm);

• Valérie Masson-Delmotte, climatologist, CEA research director at LSCE, member of the High Council for Climate and of the Académie des sciences;

• Farhana Mederbel, PhD student in paleoclimatology at CEREGE (Aix-Marseille Univ./CNRS/IRD/INRAE/Collège de France);

• Alexandre Mersch, PhD student in quantum physics at Thales Research & Technology;

• Yan Monier, PhD at LURPA (Univ. Paris-Saclay/ENS Paris-Saclay);

• Maya Raulot-Dinh, PhD student in history of science at CHCSC (Univ. Paris-Saclay/UVSQ);

• Stéphanie Simon, CEA research director, head of the Department of Medicines and Health Technologies (MTS - Univ. Paris-Saclay/CEA/INRAE);

• Vanille Sorret, winner of the Impact Prize at Starthèse start-up pitch-ID 2025, IGPS (Univ. Paris-Saclay/CNRS);

• Manon Sudrie, PhD student in gut microbiota, biostatistics and nutrition at Metagenopolis (MGP - Univ. Paris-Saclay/INRAE);

• Laetitia Thirion, professor at CentraleSupélec, researcher at the Sondra laboratory (Univ. Paris-Saclay/CentraleSupélec/ONERA);

• Hervé This, physical chemist, INRAE research engineer at SayFood (Univ. Paris-Saclay/INRAE/AgroParisTech);

• Benoît Valiron, professor at CentraleSupélec, member of the Formal Methods Laboratory (LMF - Univ. Paris-Saclay/CNRS/ENS Paris-Saclay/CentraleSupélec/Inria);

• Pascal Yiou, CEA research director, member of LSCE (Univ. Paris-Saclay/CNRS/CEA/UVSQ).
 

The EUGLOH alliance will participate through:

• Emily Helmeid, Secretary-General, delivering a talk titled “Europe of Campuses: Are University Alliances the Key to European Renewal?”;
   
• Sam Borhani, who will serve as moderator for the roundtable “Information, Education, Innovation: Public Television as a Safeguard for Scientific Truth?” with Delphine Ernotte, President of France Télévisions. Sam Borhani is also President of the student association Cyber Saclay Team, which focuses on issues of cybersecurity and digital interference https://cybersaclayteam.com/.

Research in Sneakers 

As part of the Paris-Saclay Summit 2026, local secondary school students are invited to explore science through fun workshops, visits to scientific sites, and meetings with PhD students from the Saclay area, within the framework of the Research in Sneakers programme.

This initiative helps students gain a better understanding of the world of research, discover future careers, encourage them to consider opportunities in these fields, and stimulate their curiosity.

Middle School Students

We experiment: when science seeps in!

During the Paris-Saclay Summit, 200 middle school students from Essonne will explore careers in research and energy at the IUT d’Orsay and the Danone Global Research & Innovation Center, Paris-Saclay. They will take part in a variety of fun and interactive scientific workshops, visits, and mini-conferences, including some on citizen science. Students will also have the opportunity to ask questions to early-career researchers and professionals.

• Le French Gut -My Gut Microbes- Partner: INRAE
• Introduction to Sustainable Energies - Partner: Campus des Métiers et Qualifications - Énergie Durable Île-de-France, in collaboration with the Maison d’initiation et de sensibilisation aux sciences d’Orsay
• Discovering Careers in Energy – Partners: EDF Group and Campus des Métiers et Qualifications - Énergie Durable Île-de-France
• Full Immersion in Energy Careers – Partners: Association Yookan, in collaboration with the Campus des Métiers et Qualifications - Énergie Durable Île-de-France and EDF Group
• Discovering Careers in Digital Research – Partner: Inria
• Discovering Research at the Danone Global Research & Innovation Center, Paris-Saclay (Sensory Panels and Water, The Power of Bacteria) - Partner: Danone Global Research & Innovation Center, Paris-Saclay

Visit to the SOLEIL Synchrotron 

A special programme will allow 60 middle school students to visit the SOLEIL Synchrotron, a major research infrastructure, and gain a better understanding of photography through guided activities provided by the Musée français de la photographie. Located at the heart of the Paris-Saclay scientific campus, the SOLEIL Synchrotron was founded jointly by the CNRS and CEA.
Partners: SOLEIL Synchrotron, CEA, CNRS, Musée français de la photographie
 

High School Students

Passing on knowledge

Research in Sneakers is a format that enables high school students to discover the world of research.

Through Research in Sneakers, students meet PhD candidates and visit cutting-edge laboratories at CentraleSupélec during the Paris-Saclay Summit. Six high school classes from Île-de-France will take part in two complementary experiences designed to deepen their understanding of scientific research.

• Speed Meetings for Year 10 students: inspiring encounters with PhD students from various research institutions and Université Paris-Saclay at CentraleSupélec, introducing them to research careers and scientific discovery processes. The PhD students will help demystify science careers and encourage students to consider them as accessible opportunities.
• Hands-on Workshops: practical sessions to explore the scientific method at CentraleSupélec, including the Laboratory of Process and Materials Engineering (LGPM – CentraleSupélec/Université Paris-Saclay) and the Molecular and Macroscopic Energy and Combustion Laboratory (EM2C - CNRS). A third laboratory is to be confirmed.

Partners
Research in Sneakers is co-produced by the association S[cube] and the Culture-Arts-Science-Society Directorate of Université Paris-Saclay, La Diagonale, with the support of the research laboratories at CentraleSupélec, including LGPM and EM2C-CNRS.
 

Practical Information

• Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 February 2026
• CentraleSupélec - Bouygues and Eiffel Buildings (8–9 rue Joliot Curie, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette). A free shuttle service will be available to take attendees from Massy-Palaiseau RER station / Massy TGV station to CentraleSupélec.

Registration

Free entry – limited number of places, registration required

Registration link