Jean-Yves Lallemand, the founding father of the IECB, passed away on February 25, 2026.

Jean-Yves Lallemand, professor at École Polytechnique and director of research at CNRS, was, along with Professor Pierre Bothorel of Bordeaux 1 University and several others, the founder of the European Institute of Chemistry and Biology (IECB) in Pessac. In 1995, JYL initiated discussions between the University of Bordeaux 1, the CNRS, and the École Polytechnique in Palaiseau with a view to proposing a single laboratory, a “hotel a projets”, where young talents selected by an international scientific advisory board (SAB) would be hired to lead a high-level research team for a period of 10 years.

This assumption of responsibility by the project team was unique at the time, and the young researchers benefited from financial support from the university, the CNRS, the École Polytechnique, and above all the Aquitaine Regional Council. Jean-Yves Lallemand succeeded in convincing Alain Juppé (Prime Minister), Alain Rousset (President of the Aquitaine Regional Council), Jean-Claude Bernier, Director of the CNRS Institute of Chemistry, and Michel Combarnous, President of Bordeaux 1 University, to create this “hotel a projets”, unique in France. The IECB was founded in 1998 and moved into its premises, built by the Aquitaine Regional Council and local authorities, in 2003. Jean-Yves Lallemand headed the institute for several years before handing over to his successors. The IECB, which initially had six project teams, now has 15, most of which are or have been winners of the prestigious ERC grant.

Jean-Yves Lallemand used to say: “Bring chemists, biologists, and physicists together around a blackboard and a coffee machine, and great discoveries will emerge at the interface of these disciplines.” This motto has been well followed, and the IECB's international reputation is now well established. Every year, many young researchers from Europe and around the world apply, and be interviewed by the international scientific advisory board, to come and develop their research at the IECB. Jean-Yves Lallemand was a pioneer in this field, encouraging the blossoming of young talent. He set an example to follow.

Thank you, Jean-Yves.