An international -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- perspective CNRS focuses both on industrialized and large developing countries, while preparing the next European Framework Programme. In 2011, the organization made further progress on the three pillars of its international policy: structuring, coordination, and attractiveness. T the guiding theme of CNRS’s international policy. ‘We collaborate an agreement for coordinating joint theme-based workshops. Thisand Oxford University in 2011, both organizations decided to set upo be present wherever high-level research is carried out: this is with all countries where we can establish mutually beneficial rela- agreement should be finalized in 2012.’ tions,’ explains Minh-Hà Pham-Delègue, Director of the European Research and International Cooperation Department (DERCI). ‘While we have extensive relations with Europe’s industrialized nations, the Structuring international cooperation United States, and Japan, we are increasingly working with large emerging countries. The opening of a representative office in India The DERCI strategy for both European and non-European countries in 2011 is one of the many examples of our commitment to partici- can be summarized in three words: structuring, coordination, and pating in the new research epicenters, notably Asia.’ In this regard, visibility. ‘Cooperation stems from pre-existing links between re- CNRS also opened offices in Malta and South Africa in 2011. searchers,’ says Minh-Hà Pham-Delègue. ‘We organize internatio- nal cooperation with a view to enhancing our visibility and pooling our resources. We have an array of tools to achieve this: bilateral Horizon 2020 exchange agreements, International Programs for Scientific Coope- ration (PICS), International Associated Laboratories (LIA), Internatio- Europe clearly remains CNRS’s privileged partner. The organization nal Research Networks (GDRI), and International Joint Units (UMI) actively contributes to building the European Research Area (ERA), which are the closest form of cooperation. Today we are increasingly notably through the European Commission’s Framework Programme turning towards interdisciplinary setups such as LIMMS, our Franco- (PCRD). ‘As such, you could say there is a specifically European acti- Japanese UMI.’ vity,’ says Minh-Hà Pham-Delègue. ‘We seek to promote topics for future calls for projects, and we are also busy preparing ‘Horizon CNRS’s policy for the structuring of international cooperation takes 2020’, the next Framework Programme. In 2011, CNRS defined an several criteria into account, such as: the scientific and technologi- official positioning that will be put forward to the European Commis- cal priorities of the Framework Programme; the national priorities sion in 2012.’ The Resources Office has submitted proposals to sim- defined in the National Strategy for Research and Innovation; the plify management. Finally, a Europe-wide action plan was set up at contribution to the scientific diplomacy policy of the French Ministry CNRS (see below) in response to the formal Framework Programme. of Foreign and European Affairs; and the scientific priorities defined CNRS also manages bilateral relations with its neighbors, and in par- by the CNRS institutes. ••• ticular with Germany, its leading European partner. The 4th Franco-German Research Forum in Berlin in 2011 further strengthened these ties. Following the event, CNRS President Alain Fuchs was appointed member of a top-level executive group in charge of Simplifying the management drawing up a road map to enhance cooperation in of European projects certain priority fields including health care, the hu- manities and social sciences, and biotechnologies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Another highlight of 2011 was the organization’s first The formalism of the European Commission’s Framework Programme burdens CNRS contact with Oxford University in the UK. ‘CNRS signs researchers and managers with cumbersome administrative procedures. In 2009, numerous direct agreements with international orga- CNRS designed a Europe-wide action plan to improve and facilitate the management of nizations, but very few with universities,’ Minh-Hà European agreements. Following an initial review, a new plan was adopted in the summer Pham-Delègue points out. ‘Our relations with univer- of 2011 to pursue efforts in four specific areas: internal organization, training, monitoring sities are usually carried out through joint laborato- procedures, and modernization of methods and tools. A ‘Europe guide’ website for all CNRS ries. During a symposium jointly organized by CNRS staff was created in October 2011; it describes various scenarios and identifies the legal texts necessary to monitor European agreements and prepare the reports required. This educational and open-ended site will be updated regularly. 63 2011 A year at CNRS
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