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The French group for the study of polymers and their application (GFP) is a French nonprofit organization and learned society, which aims to promote macromolecular chemistry, polymer physics, and the science of polymeric materials (or "plastic") in French institutes of higher learning and industry.

The GFP was created in 1970^[1] by the polymer physicist André Kovacs and the chemist Georges Champetier, one of the first researchers in France to study polymer science.^[2] The statutes of the GFP set out the following goals:

• the advancement and dissemination of studies on macromolecular substances,
• the grouping of researchers studying polymers in order to promote exchanges of ideas and facilitate knowledge of scientific and technical progress in this field,
• the development of relationships between basic research and its applications.

The GFP is based in Strasbourg, where in 1954 the physicist Charles Sadron founded the first CNRS laboratory dedicated to polymer science, which became the Institut Charles Sadron in 1985. Its first general meeting was held on November 26-27, 1970 in Paris. Its first committee comprised Georges Champetier (President), Charles Sadron and René Riou (Vice-presidents), André Kovacs (Secretary general) and Constant Wippler (Treasurer). Since its founding, the presidency of the GFP has alternated between researchers based in academia and industry, while the secretary has always been a member of the Institut Charles Sadron (originally the CRM).^[2]

In May 1990, the GFP reached an agreement with the Société chimique de France, becoming first its Division of "Polymeric materials and elastomers", and later "Polymer and Materials Chemistry" Division. In 2002, a similar agreement with the Société française de physique created a common "Polymer" Division between the two organizations.^[3] The GFP is a founding member of the Fédération française des matériaux (French Materials Federation) ,^[4] and a member of the European Polymer Federation, whose first conference was organized by the GFP in Lyon in 1986.^[5] In 2020, the GFP signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Society of Polymer Science Japan.^[6]

• Société chimique de France (SCF)
• Société française de physique (SFP)
• Fédération française des matériaux (FFM)
• European Polymer Federation (EPF)
• Society of Polymer Science Japan (SPSJ)
• Société française des ingénieurs des plastiques (SFIP)
• Associazione italiana di scienza e tecnologia delle macromolecole (AIM)

The GFP organizes a numerous national and regional conferences and workshops. Its flagship event is the Colloque national du GFP, held each November in a different French city, with a typical attendance of 180-250 participants. In addition, the JEPO ^[1] is an annual conference aimed at students and early career researchers, while the RNJP targets newly-established researchers in permanent positions.^[7] Finally the GFP organizes regular workshops and training sessions on more specialized subjects.

Enfin le GFP organise régulièrement des stages pédagogiques et des ateliers de prospective sur des sujets particuliers, réunissant des chercheurs académiques et industriels, par exemple en 2004 à Lyon sur le thème des polymères nanoporeux.^[8]

As the diffusion of knowledge on polymer science is one of the principal goals of the GFP, a Teaching commission ^{[9],[10],[11]}

Concernant le suivi des dernières avancées ayant potentiellement des liens avec les polymères, une Cellule de veille scientifique et technologique (V2P) a été créée en 1999 afin de recenser toutes les nouveaux résultats ou outils susceptibles d'améliorer l'étude des polymères, en suivant les dernières articles scientifiques ou brevets, et en organisant des ateliers de réflexion prospective.

The GFP comprises 7 regional sections, covering different geographical areas of France (Grand Ouest, Nord, Ile de France, Est, Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne, Méditerranée, Sud Ouest).^[12] Each section elects a president who participates in the Adminstrative Council of the GFP. Organisation of national events (the Colloque national and JEPO) rotates between the sections, while each section organises local events.

such as the les journées de la section GFP Grand-Ouest près de La Baule en 2016.^[13]

The GFP publishes a newsletter "Actualités du GFP", 2-3 times per year.^[14] Additionally, the Education Commission periodically releases books on different aspects of polymers and their applications. In 2004, the GFP joined forces with IUPAC to promote education on polymer science in French-speaking countries.^[15]

The GFP bestows several annual or biennial awards, alone or jointly with the SCF or the SFP:

• Polymer Thesis Award of the Education Commission of the GFP (annual)
• Polymer Division Award, jointly awarded with the SCF, recognizing an early career scientist (less than 40 years old) for significant scientific results or original techniques in polymer chemistry (biennial, since 1992)
• Polymer Division Award, jointly awarded with the SFP, recognizing an early career scientist (less than 40 years old) for significant scientific results or original techniques in polymer physics (biennial, since 2004)
• Grand Prix of the GFP, recognizing the career or the complete works of a french or international researcher in polymer science (biennial, since 2003)
• Prix d'Honneur of the GFP, recognizing a scientific career dedicated to polymer science (annual, since 2017)

• Official website