Institut Pierre-Gilles de Gennes
Since 2011, the Pierre-Gilles de Gennes Institute (IPGG) has formed the core of an interdisciplinary ecosystem within PSL University, developed in close synergy with its supervising institutions and academic partners. This ecosystem is embodied in a dedicated location, the IPGG building in the heart of Paris, where research teams, a technological platform, collaborative spaces, and an incubator coexist, fostering continuous interactions across disciplines.
Building on its expertise in microfluidics and miniaturized systems at the interface of chemistry, physics, and biology, IPGG is deploying, over the 2025–2030 period, a Major Research Program bringing together several dozen teams from these fields. Together, they address key societal challenges, energy and ecological transitions, as well as biology and health, by leveraging micro- and nanofluidic technologies. The research notably focuses on negative-emission technologies for energy production and on developing alternatives to animal experimentation to accelerate the discovery of new drugs.
Research areas
This program is structured around four main scientific axes:
- Negative-emission energy production
- Control of biological and synthetic system functions
- Development of flow chemistry
- Recycling and upcycling through microfluidic technologies
Two cross-cutting approaches, flow chemistry and recycling/upcycling, run through all these axes.
At the heart of this dynamic, the IPGG technological platform plays a key role by enabling the design, fabrication, and testing of innovative devices, thereby facilitating the transition from fundamental research to practical applications.
The ecosystem is also distinguished by a strong capacity for innovation and technology transfer, with the creation of numerous start-ups directly emerging from IPGG laboratories. These companies transform scientific advances into concrete solutions in the fields of health, energy, and the environment, in close connection with industrial partners and transfer structures such as Carnot IPGG.
Finally, IPGG fully integrates education and training activities, with master’s programs, specialized training, and science outreach initiatives, contributing to the training of future experts at the interface of science, technology, and innovation.
Project leaders
Algae and plants genomics - IBENS - ENS - PSL
https://www.ibens.bio.ens.psl.eu/?rubrique16&lang=en
Bacterial Infection, Response & Dynamics - IBENS - ENS - PSL
https://www.ibens.bio.ens.psl.eu/spip.php?rubrique26
Biological Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics - SMBP - ESPCI Paris - PSL
https://www.smbp.espci.fr/-Accueil-50-
Biology-inspired Physics at MesoScales - PCC - Institut Curie
https://institut-curie.org/team/buguin_silberzan
Catalysis : Methods and Mechanisms - CPCV - ENS - PSL
https://www.chimie.ens.fr/recherche/laboratoire-lbm/peptides-glycoconjugues-metaux-biologie/catalysis-methods-and-mechanisms/
Cell-fate decisions, transcriptional regulation, C. elegans, organism-on-chip - PCC - IPGG
https://institut-curie.org/unit/umr168
Center of Geosciences - Mines Paris - PSL
https://www.geosciences.minesparis.psl.eu/en/home/
Centre de matériaux des Mines - C3M - ESPCI Paris - PSL
https://www.minesparis.psl.eu/cmat/
Chimie Organométallique et Catalyse de Polymérisation - IRCP - Chimie ParisTech
https://www.ircp.cnrs.fr/equipes-recherche-ircp/equipe-cocp/
Chimie physique et biologique de la matière vivante - CPCV - ENS - PSL
https://www.chimie.ens.fr/recherche/laboratoire-pasteur/
Complex Suspensions - PMMH - ESPCI Paris - PSL
https://blog.espci.fr/alindner/
Cytomorpholab - CBI - IPGG
https://www.cbi.espci.fr/accueil-22/equipes/cytomorpho-lab/
Dynamic control of signaling and gene expression - PCC - Institut Curie
https://institut-curie.org/team/hersen
ElectroNanoBio - CPCV - ENS - PSL
https://www.chimie.ens.fr/recherche/laboratoire-pasteur/NBMS/presentation/
Emulsions biologiques et microfluidiques - LPENS - ENS - PSL
https://www.lpens.ens.psl.eu/recherche/biophys/equipe-12/
Functioning and Adaptation of Microorganisms - CIRB - Collège de France
https://www.college-de-france.fr/fr/functioning-and-adaptation-of-microorganisms
Institut des Materiaux Poreux de Paris - IMAP - ESPCI Paris - PSL
https://www.chimie.ens.fr/recherche/laboratoire-imap/
Interfacial dynamics of soft condensed matter - Gulliver - IPGG
Laboratoire Colloïdes et Matériaux Divisés - CBI - ESPCI Paris - PSL
https://www.lcmd.espci.fr/index.php?lg=fr
Laboratoire de Biochimie - CBI - ESPCI Paris - PSL
https://www.lbc.espci.fr/home/
Laboratory of Analytical and Bioanalytical Sciences and Miniaturization - CBI - ESPCI Paris - PSL
https://www.lsabm.espci.fr/spip.php?rubrique8
Matériaux innovants pour l’énergie - CBI - ESPCI Paris - PSL
https://www.mie.espci.fr/spip.php?rubrique2
MesoBioLab - CPCV - ENS - PSL
https://mesobiolab.github.io/
Methods and application in organic chemistry - CIRB - Collège de France
Micromegas - LPENS - IPGG
https://www.lpens.ens.psl.eu/recherche/flu-int/equipe-13/
Microsystems and macromolecules for biology and medicine - PCC - IPGG
https://curie.fr/equipe/descroix
Molecular Programs and Systems - Gulliver - ESPCI Paris - PSL
Mutliscale Physics of Living Systems - LPENS - ENS - PSL
https://www.lpens.ens.psl.eu/recherche/biophys/equipe-16/
Plateforme IPGG - IPGG - IPGG
https://www.plateformeipgg.fr/
Processes, Plasmas and Microsystems Team - IRCP - IPGG
https://www.ircp.cnrs.fr/equipes-recherche-ircp/equipe-2pm/
SOFT - CPCV - ENS - PSL
https://www.chimie.ens.fr/recherche/laboratoire-pasteur/
Soft Matter Science and Engineering - SIMM - ESPCI Paris - PSL
https://www.simm.espci.fr/-Home-.html
Synthesis, Electrochemistry, Imaging and Analytical Systems for Diagnostics - i-CLeHS - Chimie ParisTech
https://iclehs.fr/research/seisad/
Systems Cell Biology of Cell Division and Cell Polarity - UMR 144 - IPGG
https://curie.fr/equipe/piel
Program management
Anne Boucher, administrative and financial manager
Magalie Stab, communications project manager