Association Bernard Gregory

Association Bernard Gregory
Name	Association Bernard Gregory
Formation	1973
Type	Scientific association
Headquarters	Paris
Region	France

Association Bernard Gregory

The Association Bernard Gregory is a French nonprofit association dedicated to the professional development of researchers and engineers in the fields of science and technology. Founded in 1973 in Paris, the association interacts with major research institutions, industrial firms, academic laboratories, and funding agencies to support career mobility, training, and policy dialogue. It operates within the ecosystem of French and European research organizations, collaborating with universities, national research centers, and international networks.

History

The association was established in 1973 by alumni and staff from institutions such as Centre national de la recherche scientifique, École Polytechnique, École Normale Supérieure, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, and Institut national de la recherche agronomique to address challenges faced by doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. Early interactions included partnerships with Ministry of Higher Education and Research (France), René Cassin, and professional networks linked to Université Paris-Sud and Université Pierre et Marie Curie. During the 1980s and 1990s the association engaged with reform debates involving European Union research programs like the Framework Programme (European Union), liaising with organisations such as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Conseil National des Universités, and Agence Nationale de la Recherche. The turn of the 21st century saw initiatives connecting to Horizon 2020, Institut Pasteur, CNES, and regional bodies like Région Île-de-France and Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Mission and Activities

The association promotes career development for researchers and engineers by organizing training, mentoring, and networking activities with entities including Sorbonne Université, Université Grenoble Alpes, INRIA, CEA, and IFP Energies Nouvelles. It advocates alongside stakeholders such as Confédération des Ingénieurs et Scientifiques de France, Fédération Française pour l'Enseignement du Multilinguisme, and trade organizations like Medef for recognition of doctoral skills in industry. Activities engage with professional bodies such as Conseil Européen de la Recherche-associated groups, human resources departments of Airbus, Thales Group, and Safran, and doctoral schools connected to École des Ponts ParisTech and INSA Lyon.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises individual researchers, engineers, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and institutional members from organisations such as CNRS, CentraleSupélec, Université de Strasbourg, Université de Bordeaux, and Université de Lille. Governance features a board drawn from representatives of Comité National de la Recherche Scientifique, alumni from École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, and professionals from TotalEnergies, Schneider Electric, and Dassault Systèmes. The board consults with advisory figures linked to Académie des Sciences, Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme, and European partners including European University Association and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Programs and Services

Programs include career workshops, resume and interview coaching, and sector-specific seminars connecting to employers such as RATP Group, EDF, Société Générale, BNP Paribas, and Capgemini. Services provide training certified by bodies like AFNOR and partnerships with academic units at Université de Nantes, Université de Montpellier, and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. The association runs mentorship schemes aligning mentors from L'Oréal, Renault, and Bouygues with mentees pursuing careers in biophysics, materials science, and data science fields linked to Institut Curie, CEA List, and Observatoire de Paris.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The association collaborates with research institutes and networks including European Laboratory for Particle Physics, Institut Cochin, Institut Pasteur de Lille, CNES, and European Space Agency projects. It partners with funding and career platforms like Pôle emploi, Fondation CNRS, and Fondation de France, and engages with policy forums such as Conseil Economique, Social et Environnemental and Parlement européen committees on research. International ties connect to Max Planck Society, German Research Foundation, National Science Foundation (United States), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and CERN collaboration programs.

Impact and Recognition

The association has influenced career policies in institutions including Ministère du Travail (France), Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and Collège de France, contributing to reports by OECD and European Commission initiatives on doctoral employability. Its alumni network includes professionals in Sanofi, Servier, Groupe PSA, Veolia, and public research posts at Institut national d'études démographiques and Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale. The association's work has been cited in white papers by European Research Council panels, national committees such as Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur, and conference programs at European Conference on Research Integrity and International Conference on Research Management.

Category:Scientific societies based in France