Patrick Olivier Appointed Director of Télécom Paris: A New Strategic Vision for IP Paris

01 Mar. 2025

The Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris) has announced the appointment of Patrick Olivier as the new director of Télécom Paris, one of its founding schools, effective March 1, 2025. A General Engineer of Mines and a graduate of École Polytechnique and Télécom Paris, he will lead this prestigious engineering school for a five-year term at a time of major technological and ecological transformation.

Patrick Olivier Appointed Director of Télécom Paris: A New Strategic Vision for IP Paris

Expertise at the Intersection of Academia, Industry, and Public Policy

Before assuming his new role, Patrick Olivier led the Ecological, Industrial, and Agricultural Transition division at the General Secretariat for Investment, where he oversaw the implementation of the France 2030 program. This strategic initiative, with a €54 billion budget, aims to accelerate the transition to decarbonized energy, sustainable agricultural practices, and low-carbon mobility. His extensive experience will be a valuable asset in strengthening the role of Télécom Paris and, more broadly, IP Paris, in education and research.

A Strategic Vision for the Future of Télécom Paris

As part of his new responsibilities, Patrick Olivier will oversee the implementation of Télécom Paris' strategic plan, adopted in February 2023, in alignment with the vision of both the Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT) and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris. He will also join the IP Paris Executive Board and Board of Directors, with the goal of enhancing collaboration among the Institute’s schools.

"Télécom Paris is at the heart of the technological and societal revolution we are experiencing. My ambition is to train the talents who will shape the world of tomorrow by fostering research and innovation in strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the energy transition,"stated Patrick Olivier.

Strengthening the Ambitions of IP Paris and Télécom Paris

This appointment reflects IP Paris' commitment to positioning itself as a key player in innovation. According to Thierry Coulhon, President of the IP Paris Executive Board, Patrick Olivier’s arrival is “a major asset in accelerating the influence of Télécom Paris and the Institute.”

By leveraging the strengths of both the IMT and IP Paris communities, Patrick Olivier aims to establish Télécom Paris as an international leader in digital sciences and technologies, while actively contributing to major industrial and societal transformations in the years to come.