On April 8, the Prime Minister formally signed, alongside the President of the National Foundation for Political Science (FNSP) and the Director of Sciences Po, the agreement formalizing the merger of the CEPII and the OFCE. This landmark agreement establishes a major new institution under the auspices of Sciences Po, set to become a leading center for applied economic research in France, across Europe, and globally.
Drawing on the legacy of two distinguished institutions (the CEPII, founded in the late 1970s, and the OFCE, established in 1981) the new center will unite world-class expertise in macroeconomic forecasting, international trade analysis, and public policy evaluation. Its mission is to address today’s most pressing economic issues, including macroeconomic and financial developments, environmental transition, migration, innovation, and the evolving flows of global trade, through integrated research spanning national, European, and international dimensions.
Against a backdrop of increasing economic complexity and deepening global interdependence, the new center is designed to strengthen public debate by producing rigorous, independent, and evidence-based research. It will play a pivotal role in informing economic policymaking through fact-based analysis grounded in the highest academic standards.
To ensure scientific excellence, an independent scientific advisory board will oversee the quality of research output and the robustness of methodologies employed, further reinforcing the center’s status as a globally recognized hub for economic expertise.

The merger is now entering its final implementation phase, with the remaining administrative and operational formalities expected to be completed in advance of its full launch on July 1. Antoine Bouët