Who we are
The National Academy of Technologies of France (NATF) is a national public administrative institution placed under the supervision of the Minister of Research and under the protection of the President of the Republic. It has more than 300 elected members, from various backgrounds that reflect the diversity of technologies. Its organisation ensures the collegiality and relevance of its action in the exercise of its missions: opinions and reports, general orientations and action programmes are voted in plenary assembly. Four strong ideas govern the action of the Academy for an increasingly reasoned and collective appropriation of technologies: progress, sense of general interest, listening, anticipation.
Rehabilitating the notion of progress
In order to enlighten the debates and better equip decision makers and citizens, the Academy plays a role of trusted third party and mediator. Thanks to the diverse expertise of its members and its collective work, it provides a comprehensive, original and impartial perspective on issues relating to technologies and their interaction with society. We are thus committed to promoting useful and responsible technological choices that will improve living conditions.
Within the Academy, nine “Areas of expertise” publish communications, opinions, reports or scientific and technical expertise by privileging the long-term vision and the adequacy with the needs of society and the economic world. This work contributes to the definition of the framework and values that will allow us to approach technologies by virtue of their usefulness and impact, by exploring risks and benefits, and without forgetting their purpose: to provide opportunities for progress in the face of present and future challenges.
Rehabilitating the notion of progress
To reconcile the citizens
We believe that the challenge of progress is also a democratic challenge. Technologies evolve very quickly, for example in the fields of biology or digital applications, with a risk of inequality of access and distrust among citizens: an explosion of fake news, technological fantasies, but also opposition to the superficial or even destructive nature of certain uses of technologies. In a society of permanent controversy, where points of view proliferate, diversify or become radicalised, we are convinced that nuance, complexity, action and open-mindedness must imperatively guide our public service mission.
We therefore support information, training and education on technologies, especially for young people, and we work with high school students to maintain the attractiveness of technological fields. We are committed to contributing to improving the presence and visibility of women in technology, for example through “Women in the Tech industry“, a portrait gallery highlighting inspiring women in the world of technology. We are also sensitive to the imaginary worlds that technology can create, and have created a science fiction short story award to hear and share them.
To reconcile the citizens
Understanding our day and time
The Academy is made up of more than 300 French and foreign members, specialists in their fields, who participate in or lead national and international networks of experts. Faced with technological challenges that require, more than ever, the pooling of knowledge and international cooperation, the Academy is also in direct contact with its counterparts abroad within Euro-CASE (federation of 21 European academies of Applied Sciences, Technologies and Engineering bringing together 6,000 experts) and CAETS (International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences).
The academic work leads us to hear experts, researchers, industrialists, parliamentarians or users. We work with many public research institutions to consolidate knowledge, circulate it and increase the number of viewpoints. We are conducting numerous joint projects with the Academies of Science, of Medicine, of Agriculture, and of Moral and Political Sciences on subjects such as Covid, scientific and technological training, and artificial intelligence.
This diversity of viewpoints and our collective processes – the Academy’s publications are voted on in plenary session after several reviews – are the guarantee of our impartiality.
Understanding our day and time
To meet major challenges
At a time when most technological innovations are not foreseen, when the future of the climate is uncertain and the energy mix is critical, the foresight work carried out by the Academy is essential to anticipate future challenges.
The National Academy of Technologies of France issues recommendations to public authorities and socio-economic players, provides the media with unbiased content, knowledge and information, and rewards innovators by offering them visibility and support. These are all ways of anticipating the major transformations that will impact future generations and require mobilisation today.
To meet major challenges
The Academy’sawards
The Academy is active in several awards that reward technological work or inspire young talent.
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Partners
In order to reflect collectively on the progress of technologies and their impact on our society, the Academy relies on a network of partners from the economic and industrial sphere, the world of education, research, local communities and public authorities.
Partners
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The academicians
The academicians
The Academy is made up of more than 380 French and foreign members appointed through a rigorous co-optation process that ensures diversity of expertise, professional background and gender.
Academicians