Jean-Pierre Contzen studied engineering and nuclear physics at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. He started his professional career in 1959 at the Nuclear Research Centre of Mol working on reactor safety and advanced conversion systems. He moved in 1964 to the European Launcher Development Organisation ELDO where he worked on future space vehicles' concepts. He joined the European Space Organisation ESRO in 1969 where he developed the programmes for applications satellites. He started in 1974 a 25 years' association with the European Commission occupying successively the posts of Director of Programmes of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), Director for Science &Technology Policy, Director General of the JRC and Special Adviser of the Commissioner in charge of external Relations. During this period, he was member of the Standing Committee of START (Global Change System for Analysis, Research and Training) (1992-1997) and member of the Management Board of the European Environmental Agency (1993-1997).
From 2000 to 2002, he was Special Adviser to the Minister of Science & Technology of Portugal. He is currently Chairman of the Institute of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University and Invited Chair Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon. He deals also with environmental issues through his chairmanship of the Board of Guardians of the Russian Scientific Foundation "Nansen International Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre" in Saint Petersburg and as member of the Scientific Committee of the Institut Royal pour la Gestion Durable des Ressources Naturelles et la Promotion des Technologies Propres (IRGT) in Brussels.
He is a member of the Committee of Applied Sciences of the Royal Belgian Academy.
From 2000 to 2002, he was Special Adviser to the Minister of Science & Technology of Portugal. He is currently Chairman of the Institute of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University and Invited Chair Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon. He deals also with environmental issues through his chairmanship of the Board of Guardians of the Russian Scientific Foundation "Nansen International Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre" in Saint Petersburg and as member of the Scientific Committee of the Institut Royal pour la Gestion Durable des Ressources Naturelles et la Promotion des Technologies Propres (IRGT) in Brussels.
He is a member of the Committee of Applied Sciences of the Royal Belgian Academy.