The Corps des Mines is a body of French higher civil servants. The Corps is attached to the Ministry for Economy and Finance.

Its purpose is to entice top-class students in science to serve the government and train them for executive careers in France.

Corps des Mines engineers are mainly recruited among students from École polytechnique, École normale supérieure, Mines ParisTech and Télécom ParisTech. One PhD holder is also recruited every year, as well as 2-3 civil servants. In total, about twenty engineers enroll yearly.

During the course of their training, the Corps des Mines engineers are due to complete two positions in private companies (one in France and one abroad), followed by a taylor-made one-year training in Business and Public Affairs, hosted at Mines ParisTech and Telecom ParisTech.

The main aim of the training is to provide theoretical and practical knowledge about how companies operate, together with an understanding of government responsibilities in the technical and economic fields.

After their training, the Corps des Mines engineers join the higher public service, where they occupy positions of responsibility (team management, management of complex projects, e.g.) with high level of complexity and exposure to political decision making.

Many Corps des Mines engineers pursue careers in the private sector, where they hold top executive positions in large industrial companies, start-ups...

The Corps des Mines counts numerous public figures among the ranks of its alumni, including:

- Jacques Aschenbroich, CEO, Valeo

-Gérard Berry, computer scientist at INRIA

-Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, CEO, BNP Paribas

-Patrice Caine, CEO, Thales Group

-Bernard Doroszczuk, Chairman of the French Nuclear Safety Authority

-Laurence Danon, Chairman of LCF Rothschild

-Isabelle Kocher, CEO, Engie

-François Loos, former Minister

-Patrick Pouyanné, CEO, Total

-Laure de La Raudière, Member of Parliament

-Sébastien Soriano, President of the French Telecom Authority