The Association Bernard Gregory is named after Bernard Paul Gregory, a physicist who specialized in the study of particles. Within the framework of his functions successively at the head of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the General Delegation of Scientific and Technical Research (DGRST), he remained committed to fostering scientific careers in France.
In 1977, just before his death, he set up a task force on career opportunities for scientists with research training. This task force soon evolved to become the non-profit organization now known as the Association Bernard Gregory.