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Joint Statement - France and Canada establish the Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation

As long-standing partners in research and innovation, France and Canada believe in the importance of investing in science, technology and innovation to meet the major challenges facing the world today and to promote the prosperity of their populations.

France and Canada share a common vision of excellence in research, which is based on the fundamental values of their democracies, such as human rights, academic freedom, ethics and open science. Canada is now France's 7th most important scientific and research partner in terms of collaborative publications, and France is Canada's 5th most important partner. In addition, our companies and post-secondary research institutions are involved in numerous research and development collaborations in several key sectors.

Canada and France intend to strengthen their sectoral cooperation, particularly in advanced technologies, energy transition, health and oceanography. The potential for joint action within multilateral institutions was also mentioned. In addition, France mentioned it would welcome future cooperation with Canada under the European Union’ (EU)s Horizon Europe programme.

As part of this strengthened cooperation, Sylvie Retailleau, Minister of Higher Education and Research of the French Republic, and François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada, announced the establishment of the Joint Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation on April 24, 2023 in Ottawa, during the Minister's visit to Canada.

The first meeting of the members of the Joint Committee was held on the same day under the co-chairmanship of Dr. Claire Giry, Director General of Research and Innovation at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, and Dr. Mona Nemer, Canada's Chief Science Advisor, in the presence of numerous representatives from the research and innovation sectors of both countries.

The objective of the Joint Committee is to strengthen the long-standing partnership between Canada and France in science, technology and innovation. This will be achieved by fostering scientific and technological cooperation between research and higher education institutions as well as companies in both countries on issues of common interest for the benefit of the people of both countries. The discoveries it will promote will also help identify solutions to major global problems such as the fight against pandemics and climate change.

The Joint Committee will encourage regular meetings between the researchers and companies from both countries, including through experts workshops, to identify thematic priorities for future collaborations. Joint research and innovation teams will be supported by a new co-financing mechanism. Calls for projects jointly funded by the French National Research Agency and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada will address various themes such as quantum sciences or artificial intelligence. A first call for projects will be issued shortly.

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