MATH+ and École Polytechnique (l’X, Paris) are strengthening their ties and expanding their scientific collaboration. The partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 24 March 2026 during a visit by a delegation from the MATH+ Chair to l’X.

On 24 March, École Polytechnique welcomed a delegation from the Berlin Mathematics Research Center MATH+, led by Sebastian Pokutta (TU Berlin, ZIB), Executive Chair of MATH+. The meeting aimed to lay the groundwork for an expanded partnership, marked by the signing of a framework agreement focused on academic and scientific collaborations within the partners’ international strategies.

The new agreement will enable students and doctoral candidates from École Polytechnique to undertake internships and research stays in the laboratories affiliated with the Cluster of Excellence MATH+—including Freie Universität Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Weierstrass Institute (WIAS), and the Zuse Institute Berlin. In return, École Polytechnique will host students and researchers from MATH+.

Scientific discussions brought together leading members of École Polytechnique’s Center for Applied Mathematics (CMAP) and the Laurent Schwartz Mathematics Center (CMLS), including Josselin Garnier, Stéphane Gaubert, Vincent Bansaye, and Stéphane Bijakowski. They were joined by mathematicians from TU Berlin, including Michael Joswig and Sebastian Pokutta, who also serves as Vice President of the Zuse Institute Berlin and Chair of MATH+. The meeting also included École Polytechnique’s Provost, Dominique Rossin, Vice Provost of Research, Kees Van der Beek, and Director of International Affairs, Gaëlle Le Goff. This gathering of institutional leaders and scientific experts provided an ideal setting to explore new avenues for collaboration.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which will facilitate international exchanges and research stays between the partner institutions. In particular, it will simplify access for École Polytechnique students and doctoral candidates seeking internships or research opportunities within the interdisciplinary and inter-institutional MATH+ projects.

École Polytechnique already maintains close collaborations with several MATH+ partners, notably Freie Universität Berlin, with which l’X has offered a dual degree in physics since 2013.

Strengthening ties between Berlin and Paris-Saclay

Reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening Europe’s position in research and advanced future technologies, the new partnership will help bring the innovation ecosystems of the metropolitan areas of Paris-Saclay and Berlin closer together, as highlighted at the ‘Choose Science’ summit in February.

By combining world-class academic excellence, strong research capabilities, and dynamic innovation environments, this enhanced cooperation strengthens the Franco-German innovation axis and supports the development of breakthrough technologies essential to Europe’s strategic sovereignty.

LINKS:

• École Polytechnique home page
• News report from École Polytechnique