Following a highly favourable vote by the Mines Nancy Board of Directors and by decree of the French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space, François Alter, 47, has been appointed Director General of Mines Nancy for a five-year term, effective September 1, 2026. A General Engineer of the Corps des Mines, he succeeds François Rousseau (2016–2026) with the clear ambition of positioning the school as a key player in technological sovereignty and the ecological transition.
An Outstanding Career, from Digital Technologies to Space Exploration
François Alter, Director General of Mines Nancy
A former student of the École Normale Supérieure in Paris and a graduate of Mines Paris – PSL, François Alter has built his career at the crossroads of research, industry, entrepreneurship and public policy.
He began his professional career in image processing research and business development, working with companies and organisations in the aerospace and digital sectors, including CNES, Microsoft, Sogeclair and DxO Labs.
His career subsequently took him into public service, where he held positions in several French ministries in closely related fields, including economic development, research, investment and economic security. He also served twice as a ministerial adviser, with responsibilities ranging from research policy to interministerial coordination.
François Alter joined CNES, the French space agency, in 2017 and went on to hold several strategic positions, including Deputy Director of Strategy, Chairman of the investment holding company and Adviser to the President. In these roles, he actively contributed to the emergence of the French and European New Space ecosystem through initiatives such as Connect by CNES, the CosmiCapital fund and France 2030, while also contributing to major international projects including the European IRIS² satellite constellation and the Space Climate Observatory.
Bringing the Promise of “Here, Tomorrow Is Already Taking Shape” to Life Through Four Strategic Pillars
As Director General of Mines Nancy, François Alter will implement an ambitious and structured roadmap.
His first priority will be to consolidate the school’s position as a leading, internationally recognised general engineering school. His ambition is to establish Mines Nancy sustainably among the very top engineering schools in France, while further strengthening its local, national and cross-border networks.
His second strategic priority will focus on expanding partnerships with socio-economic stakeholders involved in issues of industrial and technological sovereignty, as well as with the network of mid-sized and small and medium-sized companies in the Grand Est region. This ambition will notably involve the creation of new academic and industrial chairs.
François Alter also intends to work alongside staff, students, alumni and external partners to shape the skills and fields of expertise that will define the future. The aim is to ensure that Mines Nancy’s educational programmes continue to evolve decisively in response to the rise of artificial intelligence and robotics.
Finally, openness and diversity will be central to his vision. In his view, meeting France’s growing need for engineers will necessarily require significantly increasing the representation of women in engineering and scientific programmes.
Hélène Boulanger, President of Université de Lorraine:
“We are delighted by François Alter’s appointment. Mines Nancy is a flagship institution for our region and a cornerstone of Université de Lorraine. His ambition to strengthen ties with the regional economic ecosystem, including mid-sized companies and SMEs, while pursuing scientific excellence at the highest level, is fully aligned with our site strategy. Together, we will accelerate the ecological and digital transitions while fostering greater diversity in scientific fields.”
Anne Lauvergeon, Chair of the Mines Nancy School Board:
“François Alter’s arrival at the head of Mines Nancy marks a new strategic chapter for the school. His broad engineering background, together with his experience at the heart of government and the space industry, are major assets. He will bring the energy and vision needed to train the engineers of tomorrow, capable of addressing the challenges of France’s industrial and technological sovereignty. The School Board stands fully behind him.”
François Alter, incoming Director General of Mines Nancy:
“It is with great pride that I will take up my position as Director General of Mines Nancy at the beginning of September, after having had the privilege of immersing myself in the school’s dynamic over the past few months. This new academic year is already marked by significant developments, which only reinforce my enthusiasm: the ongoing strengthening of the Artem Alliance, the excellence in artificial intelligence demonstrated during the recent Hack the World(s) hackathon, the integration of students with BCPST academic backgrounds, and the rollout of a new curriculum. I look forward to building on this momentum together with all our staff and students, with the support of Université de Lorraine, the School Board, the Foundation and our alumni.”
