Postponed because of the sanitary crisis, the France-Canada Research Fund celebrated its 20 years of existence at the Embassy of France in Canada, in Ottawa, on May 12 and 13, 2022.
The FCRF reinforces the collaboration between the French and Canadian research
Over the first 20 years of its history, the FCRF funded over 350 collaborative research projects. The Fund now counts among its members 20 universities from across Canada and all research institutions in France. In 2022, the Fund’s membership grew, with the prestigious University of Sherbrooke joining the consortium and increasing opportunities for future scientific partnerships between France and Canada.
During those two days, the actors of the France-Canada Research Fund celebrated the 20th birthday of the Fund with a series of meetings and a reception at the Residency of the French Embassy in Ottawa.
After the annual meetings of the FCRF, Patrick Nédellec, Head of Research at the CNRS and representative of the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation that supports and evaluates the French projects presented by the FCRF, met Alejandro Adem, President of the Research Coordination Committee in Canada and President of the Canadian Council of Research in natural sciences and engineering. Afterwards, he exchanged with Nipun Vats, Assistant Deputy Minister for Innovation, Sciences and Economic Development in Canada. To end his visit in Ottawa, Patrick Nédellec met the representatives of Global Affairs Canada, with Dr Mona Semer, Chief Scientific Advisor of the Canadian government.
Presentation of the French Ministry of higher education, research and innovation prize for the 20 years of the FCRF
Patrick Nédellec presented the French Ministry of higher education, research and innovation prize for the 20 years of the FCRF, that was awarded to Marcel Babin and Warwick Vincent for their project supported by the fund in 2004. Their work « Impact des changements climatiques sur l’écosystème de la Mer de Beaufort : relation entre la propagation du rayonnement solaire, la photosynthèse et l’activité bactérienne. » started with the attribution of a mobility funding from the FCRF, before becoming a success of the French-Canada bilateral scientific relation. Indeed, it gave birth to the joint Takuvik International Research Laboratory, based at the University of Laval. This research program is designed to study the impact of ongoing climatic and anthropogenic changes on Arctic marine and terrestrial ecosystems and geosystems.
Michèle Cottier becomes the new President of the French Canada Research Fund
The celebration of the 20 years of the FCRF was also the occasion to thank the French co-president Jacques Samarut and to introduce his successor, Michèle Cottier, professor at the Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne University (France).
Relive the celebration of the 20 years of the FCRF in pictures:
