In 2030, the Collège de France will celebrate the fifth centenary of its creation. This anniversary will be held under the patronage of the Head of State, the institution's patron.
Since 1530, the Collège de France has embodied a model that is unique in the world : cutting-edge research and free lectures on new knowledge, open to all, regardless of enrolment or qualifications.
At a time when science, education and culture are facing profound technological and social transformations, when disinformation is on the rise, when public spaces open to reasoned discussion are under threat, the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Collège de France is an opportunity to strongly affirm the profound modernity of this mission and the ambition that its professors wish to implement for the decades to come, around three principles : freedom of research, openness of disciplines and questioning, sharing of the products of knowledge and intelligence.
This exceptional anniversary of one of the nation's oldest public institutions, which has existed continuously for 5 centuries, will be celebrated in a manner befitting a place deeply rooted in France's intellectual, scientific and cultural history. The year 2030 will be marked by special scientific and cultural events open to all (conferences and symposia, exhibitions, publications, off-site lectures, etc.)
Two programs mark the institution's new ambition for 2030 :
- A program dedicated to young talent, designed to welcome a new generation of outstanding researchers. Its aim is to breathe new energy and innovative approaches into the institution, and to support the talents of tomorrow.
- A program to renovate and modernize the institution's facilities, with the aim of enhancing the dissemination of knowledge and welcoming the public. This involves upgrading the buildings, amphitheatres and reception areas, improving the services on offer and bringing them up to the highest standards in terms of accessibility, distribution and comfort.
To implement this ambitious program for the future of the Collège de France, the Collège de France Foundation is launching a major philanthropic campaign with the aim of bringing together a group of patrons ready to make a lasting commitment alongside the institution in this project of national scope. The aim of this campaign is to give the Collège de France the means to open up new horizons for research and knowledge.