For the past 20 years, the top French Science & Technology institution has built strong relationships with prominent Singaporean higher education and research entities such as the National University of Singapore (NUS). In 2020, l'X plans on reinforcing ties with Singapore and attracting more Singaporean students and researchers through its renowned research and English-taught international graduate and undergraduate programs.

Located just south of Paris, France, l'X is the leading French institution combining top-level research, academics, and innovation at the cutting-edge of science and technology. The school's mission is to prepare bright women and men in becoming tomorrow's outstanding scientists, researchers, managers and public officials. Among its alumni and previous professors and researchers, are four Nobel Prize winners, three previous French presidents, several leaders in business and various industries (such as Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH), and world-renowned scientists. The school has long-standing relationships regarding research and student exchanges with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technology University (NTU). 

A long tradition of exchange and partnership

École Polytechnique is part of the longest running academic collaboration between France and Singapore. Today, some 370 NUS and French students have graduated from the joint program put in place over 20 years ago. Since its establishment, the partnership has expanded to six Grandes Écoles, namely, École Centrale Paris (now merged with Supélec as CentraleSupélec), École Polytechnique, École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (Mines ParisTech), Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées (ENSTA Paris), École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications (Télécom Paris), and École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (École des Ponts ParisTech). 

Since 2004, l'X receives several students from its academic partner, NUS, and sends its students to Singapore in the framework of a double-degree program (FDDP). In November 2019, Eric Labaye, President of École Polytechnique, represented l'X at a forum organized to facilitate knowledge exchange and dialogue on the changing higher education landscape in Singapore and France. The forum was jointly organized by NUS and its French partners, bringing together academia, industry partners, FDDP alumni and students. 

In 2019, École polytechnique received the esteemed "Bienvenue en France" Label ("Choose France Certification") at its highest possible level. The school has hosted over 50 students coming from Singapore since the beginning of its academic and research collaborations with the country and also welcomes a number of students from other countries in the Asia-Pacific region including Japan, South Korea, and Australia. 

Attracting Singaporean and Asia-Pacific students with tailor-made degrees

In response to the increasing need of Singaporean students for cross-cultural skills and exposure to foreign cultures to improve their employability, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that the Global Ready Talent Program, a government initiative, funds would increase so that 70% of students could either study for a semester or do an internship abroad. 

To attract more top Singaporeans students, l'X has created entirely English-taught programs such as the Bachelor of Science program, Masters of Science & Technology (MSc&T) programs, and an Executive Master program. Highly selective and multidisciplinary, these programs follow the same excellence standards that the school has been known for the past 225 years. 

Research is a priority to work on with NUS and NTU

L'X has 23 research laboratories in strategic fields and a host of programs and initiatives to foster exchange of expertise in high-stake and key research areas like Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Applied Mathematics, Urban Development, and Smart Cities. There are several ongoing research projects led by l'X and NTU researchers such as "nanotechnology for efficient energy," a project led by Assistant Professor Seok Woo Lee from NTU and Jongwook Kim from École Polytechnique, or the collaboration between the Schmitt-Mechulam team in the Structural Biology of the Cell Lab (BIOC) at École Polytechnique and Nanyang Technological University Associate Chair, Anh Tuân Phan, on the structure of DNA quadruplexes. There are also informal collaborations and ties between the LPCIM (Laboratory of Physics of Interfaces and Thin Films) at École Polytechnique and SERIS (Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore).

Introducing Institut Polytechnique de Paris, a world-class institute for science and technology

Created in 2019 and stemming from the initiative put in place by French President Emmanuel Macron, Institut Polytechnique de Paris brings together five prestigious French engineering schools: École Polytechnique, ENSTA Paris, ENSAE Paris, Télécom Paris and Télécom SudParis. They have one common ambition and mission: to create a world-class institute for cutting-edge research and training programs of excellence. IP Paris includes 7,500 students, 950 faculty members, 1,000 PhD students and 30 laboratories.

L'X at a glance

Campus: 400 acres in Palaiseau (10-miles south of Paris); 1,500 student apartments on campus; 20 acres of outdoor sports facilities

Students, Alumni, professors: 4 Nobel Prize winners; 3 Fields medals (alumni and long-term academic professors); 1,100 professors (all ranks); 3,500 students; 2,930 undergraduate students; 570 graduate students

Research: 23 laboratories; 1,600 research personnel; 1,350 publications

International rankings: 

2nd worldwide in THE's 2019 "World's Best Small Universities" ranking

4th worldwide in THE's 2017 "Best University for the Education of Fortune 500 Executives" ranking