A Franco-Mexican forum boosts the bilateral scientific cooperation

A Franco-Mexican Forum for Research and Innovation was held on June 10-11th, 2013 in Mexico City, in order to enhance the bilateral cooperation. The event gathered more than 400 participants, including 60 representatives from French centres and institutes of research and innovation. The French National Research Agency took part in the roundtable discussions on the funding opportunities for French and Mexican research teams, and on the synergies between the different schemes. The ANR also met its Mexican counterpart, the CONACYT. They intend to assess the on-going collaboration.

ANR funded research projects illustrate the bilateral cooperation

The event was jointly organised by the French Embassy in Mexico, the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) and the National Council for Science and Technology in Mexico (CONACYT). The participants reported on the bilateral cooperation in research, through the presentation of exemplary bilateral projects by scientists from both countries in a large number of research areas. 

4 Franco-Mexican projects co-funded by ANR and CONACYT introduced the results of their collaborative efforts:

2 ANR funded projects also mentioned their collaborations with Mexican colleagues beyond the scope of the ANR-CONACYT bilateral agreement:

Reinforcing cooperation through relevant mechanisms

New interactions were proposed to facilitate student and researcher exchange and mobility programmes, joint funding of collaborative research projects and to encourage partnerships between universities and private companies in the field of innovation. ANR contributed to the roundtable discussions on the ways to support collaborative research projects and put emphasis on the necessary synergies between the different schemes.

Ms Elisabeth Beton-Delègue, Ambassador of France in Mexico and Dr Catherine Bréchignac, Delegate Ambassador of France for Science, Technology and Innovation, conveyed France’s willingness to reinforce the strategic partnership with Mexico in the field of scientific cooperation.

ANR and CONACYT will assess their funding programme

ANR and CONACYT took this opportunity to meet to discuss about the on-going collaboration. In 2014, they intend to focus on the joint monitoring of the funded projects and on the assessment of the funding programme.

For further information: visit the Forum's website

ANR-Mexico collaboration in figures

2008: signature of the ANR-CONACYT cooperation agreement

4: calls for proposals launched between 2009 and 2012

19: Franco-Mexican co-funded research projects, including:

€5.6 M: grants allocated by ANR to those projects