February 26, 2019
The Group of Eight (Go8) which represents Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, with seven of its members in the world’s top 100 universities, will today sign a further series of MOUs with the Embassy of France and French companies, Naval Group and Thales.
“France is a strategic partner of Australia and a long-term collaboration partner with research student scholarship and mobility, and industry linkages with the Go8,” says Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson.
“The Go8 continues to demonstrate its commitment to working in successful partnership with France,” said Ms Thomson. “We are pleased these linkages, forged through a shared ethos of quality results and quality research, are continuing to grow and deepen.”
The agreements will be signed at the Embassy of France reception attended by French Higher Education Research and Innovation Minister Frédérique Vidal, a biochemist and a former President of the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis.
Minister Vidal is a strong supporter of improved links between France and Australia through Higher Education. On a visit to Go8 member, UNSW Sydney in May 2018, she said “for me Higher Education, Research and Innovation are closely related. The idea is to work to improve links between France and Australia around Higher Education Programs to support very high-level research within universities, but also supporting links between universities, research and companies through innovation.”
Ms Thomson said the Go8 was proud to have had 16,926 co-publications with French partners between 2013 and 2018. “This is approximately 51 per cent of Australia-French co-publications during that period. The depth of the collaboration we share with France reveals a secure and trusted partnership. It is a partnership which the Go8 has been fortunate to have French Ambassador to Australia His Excellency Christophe Penot continue to champion,” she said.
French Ambassador to Australia His Excellency Christophe Penot said Higher Education and Research play a key role in the enhanced strategic partnership between France and Australia. “The Nicolas Baudin internship program in France is one of the flagship initiatives to increase student mobility, support research collaborations, and link industry and academia. The stronger involvement of the Go8 as well as two major French companies in this program is another sign of the vitality and diversity of the France / Australia partnership.”
Contact: Vicki Thomson, Group of Eight Chief Executive on +61 438 047 155