Mitacs concludes successful mission to France

Paris, France — A Mitacs delegation led by CEO Dr. John Hepburn concluded a successful mission to France last week which aimed to strengthen the deep collaboration between Mitacs and its French partners. Over the course of the five-day visit, the Mitacs delegation promoted the organization’s innovation mandate and strengthened its connection to research institutions in France, while promoting work in key common priority areas.

On Tuesday, June 21, Mitacs held a working meeting with its French partners followed by a reception at the Canadian Ambassador’s residence in Paris. At the reception, Dr. Hepburn signed an MOU renewing Mitacs’s agreement with Inria. He also announced that Mitacs would launch a new partnership with Aix-Marseille University — one of the leading research institutions in France with campuses in 10 cities across the country. Mitacs is also in discussion to formalize a renewed collaboration with École Polytechnique, which should be expanded to the Institut Polytechnique de Paris.

The delegation also held important meetings with key French innovation leaders in sectors including health, AI, quantum science, and AgTech. This included a meeting with Antoine Petit, CEO of CNRS and a tour of the Campus Cyber cybersecurity hub at La Défense.

By promoting research and collaboration with France, one of Mitacs’s longest-standing international partners, Mitacs is fulfilling its commitment to educational diplomacy and innovation exchanges.

Quotes

Dr. John Hepburn, CEO, Mitacs

“It was a pleasure to join this important mission to one of our critical international partners to promote the long-standing collaboration Mitacs had undertaken with many post-secondary and research institutions in France. I was pleased to be on hand to renew two expanded agreements and launch a new partnership with Aix-Marseille University as well as meet with many innovation leaders. Canada and France are close partners, with shared historical, cultural, linguistic, and people-to-people ties and we at Mitacs are very proud to be able to contribute to deepening these important links.”

About Mitacs:

• Mitacs is a not-for-profit organization that fosters growth and innovation in Canada by solving business challenges with research solutions from the best academic institutions in the world.
• Since 2014, Mitacs has developed numerous relationships with French post-secondary and research institutions, including 10 active partnerships.
• Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.

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