In an interview with AEF Info on October 2, 2026, Emmanuel Trizac, president of ENS de Lyon, expressed his consideration for the high school student mobilization. He believes the concerns raised, particularly the attachment to public education and territorial equity, are legitimate and deserve to be heard. These themes also align with the school's priorities.
Despite a probable budget deficit in 2026, caused by reduced funding for CPES students and the non-disbursement of COMP funds, ENS de Lyon is proceeding with new projects. The most significant is the creation of the Institute for Sustainable Worlds, which will encompass training, research, and administrative operations. The school is also focusing on its site's scientific policy and anticipates the imminent release of the AAP labex, while managing disruptions related to the generalization of the one-euro meal.
Regarding the financial situation, after a slight surplus in 2024 and a deficit in 2025, the school expects a more significant deficit in 2026. Two main factors contribute: a substantial reduction in funding per CPES student (from over €5,000 to €2,000) and the delay in the second tranche of the COMP 0.8%, representing a €1 million shortfall. These late-notified difficulties compel the institution to manage prudently, with a two-year delay in advertising vacant research positions, which are filled by temporary staff.
Despite these constraints, ENS de Lyon is launching several new initiatives. In training, these include free science summer camps for girls, a dual Medicine and Humanities degree, and a second cohort for the inter-institutional CHELS diploma. In research, the inauguration of an electronic cryo-microscope is planned. Student life will be enhanced by the upcoming opening of a multidisciplinary student health center. The Institute for Sustainable Worlds aims to unite efforts around transitions, particularly in responsible digital practices with the ICE project for immersion cooling of computing infrastructure.
The funding for this institute will draw from resources previously allocated to the Ecological Transition mission and from two recent hires. Efforts are also underway to secure patronage, with a charter adopted to define strict exclusion criteria, notably regarding entities with criminal convictions, tax offenses, or involvement in armaments or fossil fuels.
The school is also addressing doctoral contracts. To rectify the inequality caused by the non-revaluation of certain L.332 contracts under the LPR, ENS de Lyon has decided to retroactively compensate affected doctoral students. Henceforth, the contract stipulated by the 2009 decree will be prioritized for its stronger protections.
The compensation policy has been revised, with an increase in the IFSE for category A staff to meet ministerial benchmarks. The CIA budget has been halved. Furthermore, the increased attendance at university restaurants, partly due to the one-euro meal initiative, is causing issues with capacity and safety, also impacting attendance by scholarship students. Solutions are being explored, including increasing capacity and a partnership with Isara.
