International partnerships
Inria and University College London (UCL): a major new step in Franco-British cooperation
Date:
Changed on 25/03/2024
On 29 February this year, on the fringes of the first ever Franco-British Joint Committee for Science and Technology (COMIX) in London, Inria and University College London (UCL) set a new milestone in their partnership by signing a letter of intent.
The letter provides for the creation of an Inria-UCL Joint Centre in 2024, laying the foundations for enhanced collaboration between these two leading research institutions. Bruno Sportisse signed the letter alongside Michael Spence, President and Provost of UCL, marking the strong commitment of both institutions. Inria's Chairman and CEO also took part in the ministerial delegation led by Minister Sylvie Retailleau.
The Joint Centre, which will be based at UCL in London, will host Inria-UCL co-located project teams; the first such team, GENESIS, will be led by Benjamin Guedj, a researcher at the Inria Centre at the University of Lille, who has also been approached to be appointed Inria Director of the Joint Centre.
In addition, this new structure will make it possible to roll out a major international exchange programme, including bilateral visits by researchers and co-supervision of students. It will also be an ideal venue for forging new partnerships with other world-renowned research institutions in London. More broadly, the new Joint Centre will significantly advance research collaboration in computer science, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence.
By hosting the Inria London programme, the Joint Centre aims to mark a crucial step in strengthening Franco-British cooperation, by reinforcing collaborations between Inria and its French university partners on the one hand, and London institutions on the other.
Sylvie Retailleau in London for the Franco-British Joint Committee for Science, Technology and Innovation
Sylvie Retailleau, the French Minister for Higher Education and Research, visited the United Kingdom on 28 and 29 February 2024 for the Franco-British Joint Committee for Science, Technology and Innovation.
"The aim of this committee is to intensify scientific collaboration between our two countries by mobilising resources in areas identified as priorities. On this occasion, Sylvie Retailleau and Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, will unveil a series of initiatives designed to intensify collaboration in the field of R&D, supported by an additional investment of £850 k" (€994 k), says the French ministry.