The CNRS reinforces its scientific links with Australia and New Zealand

Antoine Petit, CNRS Chairman and CEO, visited Australia (Canberra and Melbourne) and made his first trip to New Zealand (Wellington) from November 3rd to 7th. This was another step forward in strengthening the CNRS's scientific collaboration with these two countries. The CNRS met researchers, government representatives like Judith Collins (New Zealand's Minister for Research, Science and Innovation) and academics, thus consolidating the organisation's leading role in international cooperation while exploring new strategic opportunities in key research fields.

Australia's dynamic and attractive research ecosystem

Scientific relations between France and Australia began over 30 years ago and have continued to flourish, says Thierry Corrège, the director of the CNRS's Melbourne office - an important strategic partnership given Australia's established position in international scientific competition. "Although Australian universities are autonomous and not very well subsidised by the State, they invest massively in research which attracts the best talent from all over the world," explains Thierry Corrège. Australian research distinguishes itself in a number of research sectors, such as health, climate change, the energy transition and quantum technologies.

One notable example of Australian excellence is the Medical Precinct at the University of Melbourne. This unique hub is the only such centre in the world where researchers, doctors and patients can work side-by- side. "There are very few places of this sort," explains Thierry Corrège, "where world-class researchers of the highest calibre can work directly with hospitals." During the November visit, the CNRS inaugurated PHANTOM, its new International Research Laboratory (IRL)1  within this one-of-a-kind hub. Duncan Maskell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, explains that "PHANTOM is a first in our partnership with the CNRS. This laboratory provides a unique opportunity to bring our joint expertise together through our teams working side-by-side on our campus". The laboratory aims to use cutting-edge technologies to study the plasticity of tumour cells and thus accelerate discoveries in the field of oncology. "This IRL will also reinforce links with industrial partners to maximise the research's clinical impact," adds Duncan Maskell.

60% of the University of Melbourne's publications are produced through international collaboration which is a fine example of Australian research's excellence and openness. Duncan Maskell explains that "our teams actively strive to collaborate with and learn from the world's top scientists." The CNRS is one of Melbourne University's main partners in Europe, working on projects ranging through diverse disciplines like physics, biodiversity, health and the social sciences.

Finally, the jointly-run CNRS-Melbourne Network PhD programme embodies this cooperation and was renewed during the CNRS trip. The programme was launched in 2019 with 40 PhD students working in interdisciplinary teams now having received its support. "It is one of the most successful tools for training a new generation of global researchers who are capable of working effectively across borders," says Duncan Maskell. Each PhD student benefits from dual supervision and the experience of working in immersion in two complementary research environments. "The links they construct with the CNRS and Melbourne will shape their future careers," he concludes.

As well as the PHANTOM inauguration, Antoine Petit's trip to Australia also featured the inauguration of a second IRL to bolster the CNRS's Australian presence. The FAMSI IRL in Canberra is dedicated to fundamental mathematics and is a joint initiative involving the CNRS and the city's Australian National University (ANU). This laboratory's foundations lie in long-standing existing collaborations in fields like algebra, geometry and mathematical linguistics. Thierry Corrège explains that "the launch of FAMSI reflects our mutual recognition of our strengths in mathematics and our shared desire to progress in work on the fundamental issues that shape the discipline."

New Zealand - an ambitious strategic partner 

Antoine Petit's visit to New Zealand was the CNRS's first. The country's association in 2023 with Pillar II of Horizon Europe, the European Union's framework programme for research and innovation, has helped it positioned itself as a dynamic stakeholder in European research. This partnership has already produced tangible results. There have been 15 winning projects out of 58 submissions which represents a 26% success rate which is higher than the European average.

Six of these projects directly involve France which further underlines the central role of Franco-New Zealand collaboration in this framework. Alongside this, New Zealand continues to take an active part in Horizon Europe Pillar I, with 13 Marie Curie projects since the programme was launched. This twin commitment to the pillars of scientific excellence and thematic collaboration serves to reinforce New Zealand's position as a key partner for the CNRS.

Strategic priorities have been identified, with research in the Antarctic, photonics and adapting agro-ecosystems to climate change considered central. The AGRI4ADAPT International Research Project (IRP)2  is supported by French and New Zealand partners and works on developing solutions to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems in the context of climate change. "We aim to transform this IRP into an IRL as this mechanism will enable us to structure cooperation between our two countries more effectively in response to global challenges," explains Anne Rouault, scientific attachée at the French Embassy in New Zealand.

However challenges remain despite these successes. Researchers in New Zealand still need to reinforce their capabilities in project coordination, particularly for responses to Horizon Europe calls. "One of New Zealand researchers' main goals is to identify relevant European partners to set up projects with. The CNRS is New Zealand's leading French scientific partner as regards the volume of co-publications which explains its interest for New Zealand researchers", explains Anne Rouault. However she also points out that the CNRS's international structuring tools remain little known and under-used in New Zealand. "This time spent structuring cooperation is proving a powerful lever. In this way, the CNRS's two current IRPs in New Zealand and the chance of these developing into IRLs illustrate what can be built over time," she adds. Areas in which France and New Zealand could cooperate to a greater extent include the ocean, geosciences, AI and quantum sciences. 

CNRS schemes like IRLs, IRPs and International Emerging Actions (IEA)3  have a key role to play in developing these partnerships. Duncan Maskell considers that "the broad range of collaborative tools set up between the CNRS and Melbourne opens a natural pathway for transdisciplinary research to emerge and flourish that can help respond to major global challenges."

• 1These IRLS provide a structure for the significant and lasting presence of researchers from a limited number of French and overseas research institutions (just one partner country) in an identified location.
• 2International Research Projects are collaborative research projects set up by one CNRS laboratory or more and laboratories in one or two other countries. They facilitate the consolidation of existing and established collaborations.
• 3International Emerging Actions are projects that explore new research fields and set up new international partnerships through short-term missions, organising work meetings and driving initial joint research work on a shared scientific project.