ANR-NSFC Joint Workshop on the follow-up of French-Chinese projects

The thematic areas concerned were: information and communication science and technology; nanoscience and nanotechnology; engineering sciences and materials; energy; and geotechnics and environment. The event was an opportunity to gather French and Chinese research teams working on the projects, and to implement a follow-up of the research undertaken in the framework of the ANR-NSFC joint programme. The project presentations confirmed the creation of synergies between French and Chinese researchers, and that the expectations about the programme are relatively high. Almost two-thirds of the projects emerged from existing collaborations and first contacts initiated by the different international cooperation tools of the French Ministry of Foreign affairs and research organisations. The emerging collaborations could deepen further and the number of exchanges and co-publications has increased substantially. The ANR and the NSFC have launched annually their joint programme since 2008. In that context, nearly 15 projects resulting from a new collaboration that did not exist before the launching of the programme could emerge.

A Chinese delegation made up of directors and representatives from the scientific departments and the international relations division of the NSFC also attended the workshop. The fruitful exchanges between the ANR and the NSFC were an opportunity to highlight the achievements of the collaboration and to renew the French-Chinese partnership for 2013.