To strengthen research collaboration with the French science community and expand international academic relations, Academia Sinica (AS) has renewed its MOU with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS). In addition to deepening the collaboration relationship, both parties have agreed on practical issues, including gradual restoration of mutual scholarly visits, execution of key research programs, and joint talent cultivation.
The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the largest basic research institute in Europe, plays a highly influential role in the international scholarly community and has long collaborated with AS. An academic MOU was signed in 2018, and joint research programs have continued. The AS representative group visited France previously, facilitating meaningful exchanges on establishing technology policies, research topics, and research program examination criteria. In return, CNRS Head Antoine Petit visited Academia Sinica on October 5 during his recent visit to Asia. AS President James Liao hosted the MOU renewal ceremony, which marked the deepening of scholarly collaboration between both research institutes.
The previous visit to France by the AS representative group took place from September 16 to 22, led by President Liao and joined by AS supervision board members, including Vice President Mei-Yin Chou and Head of the Department of International Affairs Tzu-Ching Meng. They visited the six most prestigious research institutes: the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Academy of Sciences (ADS), the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the National Cancer Institute (INCa), the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), and the Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). These institutes cover the three main disciplines at AS: Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Humanities and Social Sciences. In-depth discussions covered biomedical translation, pandemic science, new energy technology, quantum technology, and cultivation of Sinology talent.
