Commercial hydrotreating catalysts are usually composed of a sulfide active phase, molybdenum or tungsten sulfide promoted by cobalt or nickel, supported on alumina. Due to very stringent environmental regulations, the research effort to enhance the properties of these catalysts is still very important. The present article summarizes studies carried out recently by French scientists in three directions, the improvement of the preparation and activation methods of molybdenum or tungsten sulfide based catalysts, the search for new active phases based on solid state chemistry concept or bifunctional mechanism, and the design of new supports.