On 20 May 2022, Sylvie Retailleau, President (since March 2020) of the Paris-Saclay University, was appointed as the new Minister of Higher Education and Research in France. She succeeds in this role Frédérique Vidal, who previously occupied this post since 2017.

A physicist by training, Ms Retailleau also served, at the time of her appointment, as President of the Commission on Research and Innovation of the French University Presidents’ Conference (CPU). Previously, in 2019, she was President of the COMUE (Community of universities and other establishments) of Paris-Saclay University and President of the predecessor institution of Paris-Saclay – the Paris-Sud University – between 2016 and 2018; she obtained her doctorate from the latter institution in 1992, and worked as a professor since 2001, with various roles ever since.