Canada-France Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation
Estelle Iacona, President of Université Paris-Saclay, represented French universities at the first strategic council meeting of the Canada-France Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (Comix). Estelle Iacona also signed a joint statement on behalf of Udice, aimed at developing strategic collaborations and partnerships in research and education between French and Canadian universities.
Canada-France Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (Comix)
On 24 April 2023, Estelle Iacona, President of Université Paris-Saclay, represented French universities at the first strategic council meeting of the Canada-France Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (Comix), co-chaired by Claire Giry, Director General of Research and Innovation at the French Ministry for Higher Education and Research, and Mona Nemer, Canada’s Chief Science Advisor.
The committee was launched by Sylvie Retailleau, the French Minister for Higher Education and Research, and François-Philippe Champagne, the Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
The strategic council gave Estelle Iacona the chance to reiterate:
• The importance of partnerships between French and Canadian universities in the implementation of a shared scientific strategy
• The leading role French and Canadian universities have to play in their respective ecosystems with strong links with local areas, ties with the economic network, adapted educational programmes, graduates from all levels of study, and top-level research and innovation
• The education-research-innovation continuum provided by universities
• The broad academic spectrum covered by universities, from basic to applied science, hard sciences and engineering, humanities and social sciences, life sciences and health.
Estelle Iacona also proposed:
• strengthening links on a European level with the association of Canada to Horizon Europe and the participation of Canadian universities in European Alliances
• balanced mobilities of students and researchers
• improving the promotion of doctors from all scientific fields and the appeal of PhD programmes, in particular in fields under pressure today, or which may become under pressure (AI, health)
• shared thinking about academic freedom and research security
• developing interdisciplinarity in priority areas (AI, quantum computing, health, green economy).
The Comix was created by the Global Affairs Ministry of the Canadian government and the Ministry for Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs of the French government. It aims to strengthen the long-standing partnership between the two countries in science, technology and innovation.
Strategic research and education collaborations between French and Canadian universities
Estelle Iacona, President of Université Paris-Saclay, also signed a joint statement on behalf of Udice*, aimed at developing strategic collaborations and partnerships in research and education between French and Canadian universities, and encouraging joint research projects, student and researcher mobilities, shared educational programmes and research chairs.
The statement is part of the joint Canada France committee.
* Udice brings together 10 French universities (Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL), Aix-Marseille Université, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université Côte d'Azur, Université de Bordeaux, Université de Strasbourg and Université Grenoble-Alpes). Together, they strive for research excellence, performance in higher education and the development of attractive innovation ecosystems.