SystemX, the technological research institute (IRT) dedicated to the digital engineering of future systems, welcomes two new founding members to its board of directors following the dissolution of the Fondation de Coopération Scientifique du Campus Paris Saclay (FCS), which had two seats: the University of Paris-Saclay, represented by Michel Mariton (Vice President of Economic Development) and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, represented by Bruno Cattan (Head of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee).

On October 15, the IRT Board of Directors voted unanimously to withdraw from the FCS and to integrate its two new members.

The integration of the University of Paris-Saclay and the Polytechnic Institute of Paris into the IRT’s board of directors formalises the strong links that have existed for a long time between SystemX and these two leading academic establishments on the Saclay plateau. Indeed, the University of Paris-Saclay and the schools of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris are or have been partners in 37 of the Institute’s R&D projects. The laboratories under their supervision or co-supervision have directed or co-directed 51 theses and co-published 342 times with SystemX. On the University of Paris-Saclay side, SystemX is strongly connected to the DATAIA institute and to the Anthropolis chair shared with CentraleSupelec.

One of the notable initiatives that illustrates the scope of the partnership between SystemX and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris is BART, which federates the largest academic research collective to address the challenges of blockchain, including Télécom Paris and Télécom SudParis alongside SystemX.

The two institutions are already present on the IRT’s scientific and technological council and on the program orientation committee.

“SystemX is delighted that the University of Paris-Saclay and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris have joined its governance. This seemed natural given its already very strong relations with these two groups of academic players on the Saclay plateau, which represent research excellence in France and worldwide in many cutting-edge fields. Through its ability to bring together and pool skills and know-how, SystemX intends to continue to create value for these players by facilitating transfers to the economic world”, comments Michel Morvan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SystemX.

“Our institute is not located on the Saclay plateau by chance. There is an extraordinary concentration of French research and innovation players. We are an essential link in the collaboration between and with all these players. The arrival of the University of Paris-Saclay and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris in our governance strengthens the clarity of our action and demonstrates our ability to work with a wide range of partners in the service of digital transformation”, adds Paul Labrogère, Director General of SystemX.

Michel Mariton

Michel Mariton is Vice-President of Economic Development at the Université Paris-Saclay. A former student at ENS Paris-Saclay, he began his scientific career as a research fellow at the Signals and Systems Laboratory (CNRS, CentraleSupélec and Université Paris-Sud). After a secondment at the University of California in San Diego, he joined Matra Défense Espace (now Airbus) where he directed the image and signal processing laboratory.

He then turned to the world of ETIs, first as CEO of Horiba Jobin Yvon, a leader in spectroscopic instrumentation, then as CEO of Surys, an authentication and security specialist, and recently of Amplitude Technologies, the pioneer of ultrafast lasers.

Michel Mariton has also served the community as president of the French association of optics companies (now Photonics France), co-founded Sample of Science and supported several start-up projects.

Bruno Cattan

Bruno Cattan is Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (DEI) at the École polytechnique. Bruno Cattan graduated from École Polytechnique in 1996 and from Télécom Paris in 1998. In 2001, he joined NOKIA NETWORKS and in 2002, he became Manager of the Mobile Operator Software Division in the start-up MOBILEWAY. In 2005, he joined the CANAL+ group as New Technologies Manager. In 2009, he was promoted to Technical Director of the Digital Switchover within the same group, where he coordinated the deployment of DTT. From 2011 to 2016, he became Technical & Digital Director and member of the Management Committee of the operator CANAL+ INTERNATIONAL. In this position, he led, among other things, the digital transformation of offers, services and infrastructures. In 2016, Bruno Cattan left the CANAL+ group for EUTELSAT. For more than four years, he led teams in charge of the development of value-added services as Director of New Applications. Bruno Cattan is also a graduate of the Institut Multimédias and has an Executive Specialized Master’s degree from Science Po. He is also Vice-President of the Telecom Paris Alumni Association.

Translated from Le conseil d’administration de SystemX accueille deux nouveaux membres : l’Université Paris-Saclay et l’Institut Polytechnique de Paris