Université Paris-Saclay at the heart of a new chapter in Franco-Korean scientific cooperation
On 7 September 2026, Université Paris-Saclay welcomed representatives from KAIST and KIAS, two leading South Korean scientific institutions. The meeting marked a new step in the development of cooperation between French and Korean scientific communities.
A day dedicated to scientific cooperation
On 7 September, Université Paris-Saclay welcomed delegations from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and KIAS (Korea Institute for Advanced Study).
Both institutions are major players in research and higher education in South Korea. Discussions focused on exploring and developing opportunities for cooperation in mathematics, engineering, physics and artificial intelligence.
Strengthening the institutional framework with KIAS and K-STAR
The meeting also saw the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with KIAS and K-STAR (Korean Universities for Science & Technology and Advanced Research), which brings together five leading Korean universities: KAIST, GIST, DGIST, UNIST and POSTECH. The new agreements with KIAS and K-STAR aim to strengthen the institutional framework and facilitate the development of new interactions between scientific communities, joint research projects and mobility opportunities between institutions.
The visit also provided an opportunity to continue discussions initiated during the institutional mission to South Korea and Japan in May 2026 on new joint projects, including research placements in engineering and physics, particularly in connection with quantum technologies; the establishment of an exchange agreement; bringing together funding opportunities for researchers working collaboratively; as well as doctoral mobility and visiting professorships.
Long-standing and particularly strong scientific ties
Links between the Université Paris-Saclay ecosystem and South Korea have developed over the long term, notably through the university’s member institutions. CentraleSupélec and KAIST have a long-standing partnership, including a double-degree programme that has attracted large numbers of students for the past decade.
Today, the university’s scientific community has links with around 50 Korean institutions, including Seoul National University, KAIST, POSTECH, KIAS, Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University and Korea University. Sixteen agreements currently provide a framework for some of these relationships.
Between 2020 and 2025, more than 3,000 joint Franco-Korean publications involving Université Paris-Saclay were identified. Collaborations are particularly well developed in medicine, physics and astronomy, as well as biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology.
The meeting with KIAS and KAIST builds on the institutional mission to South Korea in May 2026, during which a delegation from the university visited several of the country’s leading universities to identify concrete opportunities for student mobility, double-degree programmes, collaborative research and doctoral training.
Strengthening Franco-Korean momentum
This development comes in a symbolic year for relations between the two countries: 2026 marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and the Republic of Korea.
In April 2026, relations between the two countries were also elevated to the level of a global strategic partnership, with higher education, research and innovation identified as key pillars for deepening bilateral cooperation. Priority areas include artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, semiconductors, health and biotechnology, space, energy and open science.
For Université Paris-Saclay, the objective is now to consolidate its many links with South Korea through more structured and in-depth institutional partnerships, strengthening reciprocal mobility, joint research and doctoral cooperation.
KAIST
- Prof. Jaemin JUNG, Senior Vice President for Planning and Budget
- Mr. Jungil LEE, Head, International Relations Team
KIAS
- Vice President Jeong Han KIM, Professor, School of Computational Sciences (Field: Combinatorics)
- Prof. Sang Min LEE, Head of the Open KIAS Center (Organizer of the Korea-France Joint Workshop on String Theory, to be held from September 15 to 18, 2026)
- Mr. Seongchel Kwak, Head of the Communication and External Relations Team
- Ms. Seohyun Lee, Senior Officer, Communication and External Relations Team
- Prof. Camille Galap – President, Université Paris-Saclay
- Prof. Rachid Bennacer - Deputy Vice-President for Research
- Prof. Stéphane Nonnenmacher - Director of Graduate School of Mathematics
- Prof. Divya Madhavan - Director of International Relations, Language and Culture, CentraleSupélec
- Ms. Alena Bogdanova - International Partnerships Manager
- Mr. Sébastien Cartier - Head of Partnerships Department
- Prof. Eric Cassan - Deputy Director of International Affairs at Graduate School of Engineering and Systems Sciences
- Prof. Nadjib Lazaar – International Relations Manager, DataIA Paris-Saclay
- Prof. Laurent Verstraete - - Deputy Director of International Affairs at Graduate School of Physics