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France\u2019s universities are fast becoming a hunting ground for investors<\/a> hungry to unravel the source of the next AI revolution.<\/p>\n But if investors are expecting their next billionaire founder to be the archetypal nerd writing code, they will likely be surprised to find a multilingual, sporty Parisian undergrad with a penchant for the arts pitching their multibillion-dollar idea instead.<\/p>\n Speaking to Fortune<\/em>, Harry Nelis, a partner at venture capital fund Accel partner, said the link between European universities and new start-ups is unique to the AI wave, owing to a focus on deep tech and foundation models.\u00a0<\/p>\n France is the best-capitalized market in Europe for AI startups, according to Dealroom<\/a>, acquiring $2.3 billion in funding and outpacing the U.K. and Germany in the process.<\/p>\n One of the main sources of that wave is \u00c9cole Polytechnique, a science university in the south Parisian suburb of Palaiseau.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 230-year-old university is where 57% of France\u2019s AI start-up founders went to university, according to research from Dealroom analyzed by Accel.\u00a0<\/p>\n Arthur Mensch, the 31-year-old CEO and co-founder of the buzzy $6 billion French start-up Mistral is an alumnus of the college. Before the latest tech wave, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault obtained his degree in engineering from \u00c9cole Polytechnique. It also lays claim to countless French CEOs and recognized names in the field of STEM.<\/p>\n Given its high-profile grads, it\u2019s unsurprising to hear that an education at \u00c9cole Polytechnique isn\u2019t a typical college experience. The university, founded in 1794<\/a> during the French Revolution and later co-opted for the Napoleonic wars, still embodies a militaristic spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n Students at the university receive compulsory military training<\/a>, something that is unique among France\u2019s Grand \u00c9coles.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s just one of an array of extracurriculars that tech buffs at one of Paris\u2019s top science universities must master before they build the next billion-dollar AI venture, with a significant focus on the humanities.<\/p>\n Dominique Rossin, Provost at \u00c9cole Polytechnique, says that while his students will focus on STEM courses, there is also a strong emphasis on foreign languages, sports, humanities, social sciences, arts, and literature.<\/p>\n \u201cAI is now instilling every discipline the same way mathematics did years ago,\u201d Rossin said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe really push our students out of their comfort zone and encourage them to try new subjects and discover new areas in science.\u201d<\/p>\n Tech bosses agree that people using AI will be first in line for jobs in tomorrow\u2019s labor market. Skills that can delve into the technical side, like coding and machine learning, will be a priority.\u00a0<\/p>\n But speaking to Fortune<\/em><\/a> <\/em>in December, Matt Candy, IBM Consulting\u2019s global managing partner in generative AI, said there will also be space for people who can work with AI to enhance their non-tech roles and those who can train AI to think more like humans.<\/p>\n \u201cQuestioning, creativity skills, and innovation are going to be hugely important because I think AI\u2019s going to free up more capacity for creative thought processes,\u201d Candy said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe speed at which people will be able to come up with an idea, to test the idea, to make something, it\u2019s going to be so accelerated. You don\u2019t need to have a degree in computer science to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n For \u00c9cole Polytechnique\u2019s students, it\u2019s no coincidence that their well-rounded education, which focuses on refining their tech schools through a holistic lens, leaves them well-placed to handle every aspect of starting and growing a tech business, which relies on diplomacy as much as a good idea.<\/p>\n \u201cWe aim at instilling students with strong values and communication skills in interpersonal relations and management, which are essential to the success of their future career,\u201d Rossin says.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope for this background to help our students make the right observations, but also think and act intelligently in regard to the transitions that are vital to the sustainability of our world.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nParis\u2019s AI boom<\/h2>\n
\u2018AI in every discipline\u2019<\/h2>\n
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