View source for French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission

{{Short description|French research organisation}}
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{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name     = French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission
|nativename      = ''Commissariat à l'énergie atomique<br />et aux énergies alternatives''
|nativename_a    =
|nativename_r    =
|logo            = LOGO CEA ORIGINAL.svg
|logo_width      = 180
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|formed          = {{Start date and age|1945|10|18|df=y}} by [[Charles de Gaulle]]
|date2           =
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|preceding1      = Commissariat à l'énergie atomique
|preceding2      =
|dissolved       =
|superseding     =
|jurisdiction    =
|headquarters    = [[Paris]] and [[Gif-sur-Yvette]], [[France]]
|employees       = 21,000+ (2022)<ref name=CEA-website>{{cite web |title=CEA: Key Figures |publisher=CEA |year=2022 |url=https://www.cea.fr/english/Pages/cea/the-cea-a-key-player-in-technological-research.aspx}}</ref>
|budget          = {{€|5.8 billion|link=yes}} (2022)<ref name=CEA-website />
|chief1_name     = {{ill|François Jacq|fr}}
|chief1_position = General administrator
|chief2_name     = {{ill|Patrick Landais|fr}}
|chief2_position = High Commissioner for Atomic Energy
|parent_agency   =
|child1_agency   =
|child2_agency   =
|website         = {{URL|https://www.cea.fr/english|cea.fr}} (en)
|footnotes       =
}}
The '''French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission''', or '''CEA''' ([[French language|French]]: [[:fr:Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives|Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives]]), is a French public government-funded research organisation in the areas of energy, defense and security, information technologies and health technologies. The CEA maintains a cross-disciplinary culture of engineers and researchers, building on the synergies between fundamental and technological research.
CEA is headed by a board headed by the general administrator (currently {{ill|François Jacq|fr}} since 20 April 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cea.fr/presse/Pages/actualites-communiques/institutionnel/nomination-francois-jacq-administrateur-general-cea.aspx|title=François Jacq est nommé Administrateur général du CEA|date=20 April 2018 }}</ref>), advised by the high-commissioner for atomic energy (currently {{ill|Patrick Landais|fr}}). Its yearly budget amounts to €5.8 billion and its permanent staff is slightly over 21,000 persons.<ref name=CEA-website/>
== History ==
CEA was created in 1945; since then, the successive high-commissioners have been [[Frédéric Joliot-Curie]], [[Francis Perrin (physicist)|Francis Perrin]], {{ill|Jacques Yvon|fr}}, {{ill|Jean Teillac|fr}}, [[Raoul Dautry]], {{ill|René Pellat|fr}}, [[Bernard Bigot]], [[Catherine Cesarsky]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.iter.org/fr/newsline/80/440 | title=Cesarsky appointed Commissioner to Atomic Energy | publisher=ITER | date=5 May 2009 | access-date=18 March 2023}}</ref> {{ill|Daniel Verwaerde|fr}}, and {{ill|François Jacq|fr}}.
In December 2009, French President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] declared<ref>See [http://www.lesechos.fr/info/energie/020267925515-le-commissariat-a-l-energie-atomique-elargit-son-champ-aux-energies-alternatives.htm ''Les Echos''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216113604/http://www.lesechos.fr/info/energie/020267925515-le-commissariat-a-l-energie-atomique-elargit-son-champ-aux-energies-alternatives.htm|date=2010-02-16}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> that CEA should change its name from ''Commissariat à l’énergie atomique'' ({{langx|en|Commission for Atomic Energy}}) to ''Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives'' ({{langx|en|Commission for Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies}}); this change took effect on 10 March 2010, when the decision was published in the ''[[Journal officiel de la République française]]''.
== Research ==
It conducts fundamental and applied research into many areas, including the design of [[nuclear reactor]]s, the manufacturing of [[integrated circuits]], the use of [[radionucleide]]s for curing illnesses, [[seismology]] and [[tsunami]] propagation, the safety of [[computer|computerized systems]], etc.
It has one of the [[TOP500|top 100]] [[supercomputer]]s in the world, the ''[[Tera-100]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.top500.org/system/176928|title=Tera-100 - Bull bullx super-node S6010/S6030 {{!}} TOP500 Supercomputer Sites|website=www.top500.org|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> TERA 100, first system designed and built in Europe to reach the petaflops in 2010, was ranked in 5th position in the worldwide TOP 500.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.top500.org/site/47593|title=Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) {{!}} TOP500 Supercomputer Sites|website=www.top500.org|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bull.com/tera-1000-cea-completes-first-milestone-towards-exascale|title=TERA 1000: CEA completes first milestone towards Exascale|date=2015-11-12|newspaper=Welcome|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> CEA is now building TERA-1000 which is a key step in the implementation of their [[Exascale computing|Exascale]] program for the computing needs that CEA would face by 2020.{{Update inline|date=June 2022}}
In March 2016, [[Reuters]] published an article describing the "Top 25 Global Innovators – Government"<ref name="Reuters">{{cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-innovation-rankings-idUSKCN0WA2A5 | title=The World's Most Innovative Research Institutions | publisher=Thomson Reuters | date=8 March 2016 | access-date=29 May 2016}}</ref> and placed CEA as "number one" amongst "The World's Most Innovative Research Institutions."<ref name="Reuters"/>
== Organisation ==
CEA is divided into four ''directorates'', or divisions:
=== Energies division (DES) ===
The {{ill|direction des énergies|fr}} (DES) comprises four institutes:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cea.fr/Pages/le-cea/direction-des-energies.aspx | title=La Direction des énergies | date=14 October 2020 }}</ref>
* Institut de recherche sur les systèmes nucléaires pour la production d’énergie bas carbone (IRESNE), in [[Cadarache]]
* Institut des sciences et technologies pour une économie circulaire des énergies bas carbone (ISEC), in Marcoule
* Institut des sciences appliquées et de la simulation pour les énergies bas carbone (ISAS), in [[CEA Saclay]]
* Institut de technico-économie des systèmes énergétiques (ITESE or I-Tésé)
=== Technological research division (DRT) ===
The {{ill|direction de la recherche technologique|fr}} (DRT), known also as CEA Tech<ref>{{url|https://www.cea-tech.fr/cea-tech}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.drt-cea.com/accueil.htm|title=CEA Tech division|website=en.drt-cea.com|access-date=2017-07-28|archive-date=2019-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325211847/http://en.drt-cea.com/accueil.htm|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> division, is divided between two CEA sites, at Saclay and Grenoble. CEA Tech focuses on technological research and development in the field of energy, IT (both hardware and software) and healthcare informatics. It plays an active role in transferring knowledge and research to industry.
The CEA Tech division is further divided into three research institutes:
* The [[CEA-Leti: Laboratoire d'électronique des technologies de l'information|CEA-Leti]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www-leti.cea.fr/en|title=Cea Leti - Home|last=Systems|first=eZ|date=19 October 2013 |publisher=Cea Leti|access-date=2016-11-05}}</ref> lab works mainly on micro/nano technologies and specializes in microsystems, biotech, photonics and nanoelectronics. It is located mainly in Grenoble, France.
* The [[CEA-LIST: Laboratory for Integration of Systems and Technology|CEA-List]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www-list.cea.fr/en/|title=Home - CEA LIST|publisher=CEA-List|access-date=2016-11-05}}</ref> lab works mainly on systems and software-intensive technology and specializes in embedded systems, sensors and big data, and advanced manufacturing. It is located mainly in Paris-Saclay, France.
* The {{ill|CEA-Liten|fr|Laboratoire d'innovation pour les technologies des énergies nouvelles et les nanomatériaux}}<ref>
{{Cite web|url=http://liten.cea.fr/cea-tech/liten|title=Accueil|last=CEA|date=2013-10-19|publisher=CEA/Liten|access-date=2016-11-05}}</ref> lab works mainly on cutting edge technologies related to energy and [[nanomaterials]]. It specializes in building solar, carbon-free transports, biomass-hydrogen and nano materials-nanotechnologies.
The current director of DRT since january 2023 is Julie Galland.<ref>{{url|https://www.cea.fr/presse/Pages/actualites-communiques/ntic/accompagner-industries-europeennes-competitivite-resilience.aspx}}</ref>
=== Fundamental research division (DRF) ===
The {{ill|direction de la recherche fondamentale|fr}} (DRF) consists of 9 institutes:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cea.fr/drf/Pages/La-DRF/Instituts.aspx | title=Les instituts de la DRF et entités rattachées | date=5 March 2024 }}</ref>
* Institut de biologie François Jacob (JACOB) in CEA Fontenay-aux-Roses
* Institut des sciences du vivant Frédéric Joliot (JOLIOT) in [[CEA Saclay]]
* Institut Rayonnement-Matière de Saclay (IRAMIS) in [[CEA Saclay]]
* [[Institut de recherche sur les lois fondamentales de l'Univers]] (Irfu) in [[CEA Saclay]]
* [[Laboratoire des sciences du climat et de l'environnement]] (LSCE) in [[CEA Saclay]]
* Institut de recherche interdisciplinaire de Grenoble (IRIG) in {{ill|CEA Grenoble|fr}}
* [[Institute of Theoretical Physics, Saclay|Institut de physique théorique]] (IPhT) in [[CEA Saclay]]
* Institut de Recherche sur la Fusion par confinement Magnétique (IRFM) in [[Cadarache]]
* Institut de Biosciences et de Biotechnologies d'Aix-Marseille (BIAM) in [[Cadarache]]
The current DRF director since 2 november 2019 is Elsa Cortijo.<ref>{{url|https://www.cea.fr/presse/Pages/actualites-communiques/institutionnel/Elsa-Cortijo-DRF.aspx}}</ref>
=== Military applications division (DAM) ===
The {{ill|direction des applications militaires|fr}} (DAM) builds the nuclear weapons of the [[Military of France|French military]] and designs the power plants for the nuclear submarines of the [[French Navy]].
== Facilities ==
===Civilian research centres===
* [[Saclay Nuclear Research Centre|CEA Saclay]], [[Essonne]] ({{coord|48.725135|2.150346}}, headquarters since 2006) and the associated National Laboratory [[GANIL]] at [[Caen]] - [[Calvados (department)|Calvados]]
* [[Fort de Châtillon (Paris)#Centre d'Études Nucléaires de Fontenay-aux-Roses (CEN-FAR)|CEA Fontenay-aux-Roses]], [[Fontenay-aux-Roses]], [[Hauts-de-Seine]]
* {{ill|CEA Grenoble|fr|Centre CEA de Grenoble}}, [[Grenoble]] ([[Polygone Scientifique]]), [[Isère]]
* {{ill|CEA Cadarache|fr|Centre CEA de Cadarache}}, [[Cadarache]], [[Bouches-du-Rhône]]
* [[Marcoule Nuclear Site|CEA Valrhô]], [[Marcoule]] and [[Pierrelatte]], [[Gard]]
===Civilian emergency organizations===
* [[Groupe INTRA]]
===Research centres for military applications===
The sites of the DAM include:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www-dam.cea.fr/dam/plan-du-site | title=Plan du site : CEA Portail DAM }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www-dam.cea.fr/dam/nos-sites | title=Nos sites : CEA Portail DAM }}</ref>
* {{ill|CEA DAM Île-de-France (DIF)|fr|Centre CEA de Bruyères-le-Châtel}}, [[Bruyères-le-Châtel]], [[Essonne]]
* [[CEA Valduc]], [[Côte-d'Or]]
* INBS PN CADARACHE, in [[Cadarache]]
* [[CEA Cesta]], [[Gironde]]
* CEA Gramat
* CEA Le Ripault, [[Indre-et-Loire]]
==Spin-off companies==
CEA has spun off multiple companies, some being partial subsidiaries or where CEA has minority interest. Some such companies are listed below:
* [[Orano]]
* [[STMicroelectronics]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9NTc0NjQ0fENoaWxkSUQ9Mjc3ODU1fFR5cGU9MQ==&t=1|title=2014 Annual Report|date=26 March 2015|access-date=20 February 2016|publisher=STMicroelectronics }}</ref>
* [[Soitec]]
* [[LYNRED]] (formerly Sofradir)
* It owned [[Areva]]
* [[Kalray]]
== CEA in Academics ==
=== University of Paris-Saclay ===
CEA has played an active role in research, development and innovation in the four main areas of low-carbon energies (nuclear and renewable), technologies for information and health technologies, very large research infrastructures (TGIR), and defense and global security.
Moreover, two of the ten CEA centers across France have joined with the [[University of Paris-Saclay]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/fr/universite/membre/commissariat-a-lenergie-atomique-et-aux-energies-alternatives-cea|title=Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)|publisher=Université Paris Saclay|access-date=2016-11-01|archive-date=2019-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023041724/https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/fr/universite/membre/commissariat-a-lenergie-atomique-et-aux-energies-alternatives-cea|url-status=dead}}</ref> to develop high quality research and training. The centers which form a part of the University of Paris-Saclay include:
* CEA Saclay Center,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www-centre-saclay.cea.fr/en|title=CEA Saclay|last=Systems|first=eZ|date=19 October 2013 |publisher=CEA Saclay Center|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> which conducts research mainly in areas related to climate and environment, materials science, nuclear energy, life sciences and technological research
* CEA Fontenay-aux-Roses Center,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fontenay-aux-roses.cea.fr/far|title=Accueil|last=CEA|date=2013-10-19|publisher=CEA/Centre CEA de Fontenay-aux-Roses|access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref> which conducts research and innovation in areas related to imaging and biomedical technologies
(Since 2017, these two centers merged into [[CEA Paris-Saclay]] center, and are now referred to as sites in that center.)
The CEA researchers involved in the University of Paris-Saclay represent over 20% of the university's research potential, particularly in the field of physics and engineering. CEA maintains a strong presence in training to master and engineer level by administering [[Institut national des sciences et techniques nucléaires|INSTN]], wherein various courses are taught by its researchers.
CEA has around 400 researchers who hold an accreditation to supervise research, making it a significant contributor to the research and doctoral programs of the University Paris-Saclay.
=== INSTN ===
The INSTN, ''[[Institut national des sciences et techniques nucléaires]]'' (National Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology) is a public higher education institution administered by the CEA (French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission) under the joint authority of the [[Ministry of National Education (France)|Ministry of National Education]], Higher Education and Research, the [[Minister of the Economy, Finances and Industry (France)|Ministry of the Economy]], Industry and the Digital Sector and the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Marine Affairs.
=== Others ===
* Atos, ENS Paris-Saclay and CEA launched an academic partnership in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/atos-ens-paris-saclay-and-cea-launch-academic-partnership--1169074|title=Atos, ENS Paris-Saclay and CEA launch academic partnership|website=Telecom Paper |access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://inpublic.globenewswire.com/releaseDetails.faces?rId=2050182|title=The ENS Paris-Saclay, Atos and the CEA have created the 'Industrial Data Analytics & Machine Learning' Chair|website=GlobeNewswire |access-date=2016-11-01}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal|France|Energy|Nuclear technology}}
* [[GANIL]] (laboratory shared between the CEA and the CNRS)
* [[Groupe INTRA]]
* [[Laser Mégajoule]]
* [[Pascal Elleaume]]
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
=== Bibliography ===
* [[Bertrand Goldschmidt]], ''Le Complexe atomique : histoire politique de l’énergie nucléaire'', Fayard, 1980
* Gabrielle Hecht, ''Le rayonnement de la France : Énergie nucléaire et identité nationale après la Seconde Guerre mondiale'', La Découverte, 2004
* Marie-José Lovérini, ''L’Atome de la recherche à l’industrie : le Commissariat à l’énergie atomique'', Gallimard, 1996
* Jean-François Picard, Alain Beltran et Martine Bungener, ''Histoire de l’EDF : comment se sont prises les décisions de 1946 à nos jours'', Dunod, 1985
{{Scientific research in France}}
{{Nuclear power in France}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission}}
[[Category:French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission| ]]
[[Category:Government agencies of France]]
[[Category:Governmental nuclear organizations]]
[[Category:Nuclear energy in France]]
[[Category:Nuclear research institutes]]
[[Category:Nuclear technology organizations of France]]
[[Category:Paris-Saclay University]]
[[Category:1945 establishments in France]]