The University of Sherbrooke Participates in the First Meeting of the CNRS International Research Centers (IRC) in Paris

The University of Sherbrooke was represented at the first meeting of the International Research Centers (IRC) of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), held in Paris on October 29. The presidents of partner universities or their representatives, as well as the scientific directors of the six IRCs, gathered for this high-level meeting.

An initiative to strengthen international collaborations

This first meeting, titled “Connecting Talents: Shaping the Future of Global Science”, had as its main objective to explore opportunities for collaboration among the various IRCs. The International Research Centers (IRCs) are institutional cooperation tools designed by the CNRS to strengthen strategic partnerships with leading research institutions around the world—in Tokyo, Arizona, Chicago, London, São Paulo, South Africa, and Sherbrooke.

As Antoine Petit, President and CEO of the CNRS, emphasized in his opening remarks, the IRCs demonstrate that scientific progress thrives when ideas flow freely across borders.

The event took place at the CNRS headquarters in Paris, in the Marie Curie Auditorium, with numerous attendees representing embassies, ministries, and institutions involved in the IRC network. The meeting allowed leadership from partner universities and IRC representatives to share their experiences, identify synergies to develop, and explore transnational collaborative projects.

A Global Dialogue Rich in Scientific Collaborations

The day was structured around several thematic roundtables addressing critical issues for global science. Discussions focused on supporting talent to build global science, strengthening scientific cooperation in a new world order, the “One Health” approach to tackling global challenges, and the interaction between basic research and innovation, as illustrated by quantum sciences.

Vincent Aimez, Vice-President Partnerships, Knowledge Transfer, and Sustainable Development at the University of Sherbrooke, actively participated in the discussions, particularly during the roundtables on supporting talent and on the interaction between basic research and innovation.

Student Testimonials

The event also highlighted the joint thesis programs between the CNRS and the IRC’s partner universities, featuring testimonials from students who received doctoral fellowships. These training programs place international cooperation at the heart of collaboration among young scientists.

In 2025, the University of Sherbrooke and the CNRS funded six joint doctoral theses as part of the IRC “Innovations for a Sustainable Planet,” recognizing the excellence of interdisciplinary projects in the fields of science, engineering, and management. This joint thesis program has been renewed for 2026.

A Rapidly Expanding Partnership

This first IRC meeting marks an important milestone in the development of international scientific collaborations and paves the way for new collaborative research projects on a global scale, to which the University of Sherbrooke will be able to actively contribute thanks to its recognized expertise in responsible technological innovation, micro- and nanotechnologies, green chemistry, and quantum sciences and technologies.

CNRS IRCs at a Glance

The CNRS International Research Centers (IRCs) are cooperative initiatives established by the CNRS to strengthen its strategic partnerships with its key international collaborators

UArizona IRC for Global Grand Challenges

UTokyo IRC for Neurointelligence

UChicago IRC for Fundamental Scientific Discovery

Imperial IRC for Transformational Science and Technology

USão Paulo IRC Transitions 

IRC Innovations for a Sustainable Planet - University of Sherbrooke

IRC University of Witwatersrand - South Africa