Jean-François GRUSON

Based in Rueil - Malmaison

How did you get to IFP Energies nouvelles?

I trained as an engineer, but I took an interest in economic phenomena as soon as I started out in my career. I had always been keen on combining theory and technical work. In 1980, after a brief spell in research, I moved to the Hydrocarbons Division at the Ministry of Industry. I spent over 12 years there, and ended up in charge of financial and economic studies, and of monitoring refinery-product quality.

I was also working on a more technical assignment at the time. That was when I heard about IFP Energies nouvelles, and started working with them on models for refining, and for oil and gas markets. I moved to the Economics and Information Watch and Management Division in 1994.

Joining IFP Energies nouvelles was an opportunity to use my experience and take a step forward – and a step back into research.

Tell us about your job.

I am the Economics and Information Watch and Management Division Director's deputy, and in charge of economic studies touching on the oil and gas markets, and on new transportation energies.

My Division has acquired substantial expertise in economic analysis, research and forecasts in the Energy field. The broad-based economic studies we write analyze volume and price trends in the markets, and provide more or less long-term forecasts.

We also write more focused reports on current affairs or specific issues that other divisions ask us to look into.

Tell us about a normal day at work.

I spend a lot of time coaching researchers working on a wide variety of issues ranging from exploration and refining to saving energy and alternative sources.

Once we clear their reports, I present them before government agencies, or French and international industrial firms. As the Economics and Information Watch and Management Division is also involved in several projects funded by the National Research Agency (ANR – Agence Nationale de la Recherche) and the European Commission, I have served as rapporteur on an inter-ministerial task force and coordinated a European project.

I also represent IFP Energies nouvelles at conferences and journalist meetings.

What do you like about your job?

The variety, and the fact that we work with engineers from every IFP Energies nouvelles division. Economic research here at IFP Energies nouvelles keeps me in touch with theory and technical work – so it keeps me in touch with science, my first love!

What does it take to do your job?

You need a solid scientific grounding to understand the technical issues behind research projects. You also have to be inquisitive and keen to know all there is to know about the economic, political and regulatory environments you are working in.

Lastly, as you are managing people, good soft skills obviously help.

Where do you want to go from here?

I don't really think much about that any more. I am more concerned about the young engineers here at our division. If you move here, it isn't easy to get back into technical research later on. But you get great all-round experience in the new energy and transport technology markets, and the medium- and long-term challenges they will have to face.

Further information on the Economics and Information Watch and Management division