Anne-Isabelle Étienvre: A Physicist Committed to Nuclear Energy at the Helm of the CEA

Anne-Isabelle Étienvre has been appointed as the new Chairwoman (Administratrice générale) of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). With an outstanding scientific and institutional career, this trained physicist presented to Parliament an ambitious roadmap for both civil and defense-related nuclear programs, in service of France’s technological and energy sovereignty.

On July 11, Anne-Isabelle Étienvre was officially named as the new head of the CEA. She succeeds François Jacq, who has taken over as Director of the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES). Her four-year appointment was confirmed by Parliament, with 46 votes in favor and 4 against.

Prior to this role, Anne-Isabelle Étienvre had been serving since November 2023 as Director of Fundamental Research at the CEA. A graduate of the École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, she holds the agrégation in physical sciences and a PhD in particle physics. She notably led the Particle Physics Division starting in 2014, and later the Institute for Research on the Fundamental Laws of the Universe (Irfu) from 2016 to 2022. She also served as research adviser to the French Minister for Research before taking over as Director of Fundamental Research at the CEA in 2023.

Her roadmap for the CEA

For her mandate, Anne-Isabelle Étienvre outlined before Parliament a program built around seven priority areas. First, she intends to strengthen research teams dedicated to defense. Second, she aims to establish a joint roadmap with the nuclear industry. In particular, she plans to finalize, by the end of the year, a research program focused on closing the nuclear fuel cycle, in line with the recommendations of the most recent Nuclear Policy Council (CPN).

The new Chairwoman also intends to ramp up research and development (R&D) in low-carbon energy technologies, and to support the startup ecosystem working on small modular reactors (SMRs). Close monitoring of the schedule and costs of the Jules Horowitz Research Reactor is also among her stated priorities. Finally, promoting women in scientific careers, starting from an early age, stands out as a strong commitment of her mandate. ■