What if we dug a little deeper?
France is facing a shortage of engineers. And yet, half the talent pool remains untapped.
What if the solution was just one letter away?
In this new issue of ctrl +, we explore a major challenge: the underrepresentation of women in engineering — and what that means for innovation, sovereignty, and the ecological transition.
Because without women, French engineering runs at half capacity.
Editorial
Wanted: 20,000 more engineers in France… and fast!
The facts are clear: France lacks engineers — and the gap is growing. According to its 2025 outlook, the CDEFI (Conference of Deans of French Engineering Schools) reports 48,700 degrees awarded in 2023–2024 — a number that’s rising, but still well below what’s needed. Companies are calling for about 20,000 additional engineers every year.
Changing the narrative, broadening the field
Some levers are already well known: reviving a passion for science from primary school, diversifying recruitment in engineering schools, revaluing technical pathways, encouraging career changes… Concrete initiatives are now underway at every level, driven and supported by national institutions.
L’Année de l’ingénierie lancée le 1ᵉʳ octobre dernier par le CNRS, l’Académie des technologies, le Ministère de l’Éducation nationale et le Ministère chargé de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche, à l’instar de la Fête de la Science, sont des exemples d’action de médiation d’envergure nationale qui tentent de susciter un intérêt pour les sciences et des vocations dès le plus jeune âge.
Launched on October 1st by the CNRS, the Academy of Technologies, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the Year of Engineering — like the Science Festival — is a national-scale science outreach initiative aiming to spark early interest in STEM and inspire future vocations.
Beneath the surface: hidden female talent
But beyond the question of appeal lies a core issue: the persistent underrepresentation of women in science and engineering careers. Though increasingly visible and acknowledged, this challenge remains largely underestimated. And without women, French engineering runs at half speed.
In this issue:
- Special feature: Ctrl + F — Where have all the women engineers gone?
- Key 2025 equality figures
- Biases that still block vocations
- Initiatives shifting the course
- And always: news, portraits, and stories for a more inclusive future in engineering
Abonnez-vous à ctrl + et retrouvez tous nos grands défis en accès rapide !
