On January 29 2019 took place the official opening of the CNRS and the Université de Lyon’s joint representative office in Ottawa. For its CNRS component, this office is a satellite of the Direction of European Research and International Cooperation (DERCI) through its North America Office, located in Washington D.C.

The new satellite office is hosted by the University of Ottawa, and is headed by Jan Matas, CNRS researcher and former Director of International Relations at the Université de Lyon. One of the main objectives assigned by CNRS is to liaise with the Canadian higher education, research and innovation ecosystems, notably at the federal level.

For CNRS, which has a network of eight representative offices abroad, including one with IRD and CIRAD in South Africa, the Ottawa satellite office is to be associated with a French university. Its presence emphasizes CNRS’ high level of commitment to Canada, who is one of its main international partners, as well as its willingness to further strengthen and develop its collaborative endeavors with Canadian institutions in all areas of knowledge. In this respect, the Ottawa office will notably establish close relationships with federal and pan-Canadian entities. Through the consolidation and animation of a network of academic and institutional actors, it also aims to densify CNRS’ position in the English-speaking part of the country and in Ontario primarily.

The official opening took place in the presence of Alain Schuhl, CNRS Deputy General Director for Science, Frédéric Fleury, President of the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and Vice-President of the University of Lyon in charge of academic strategy, and Jacques Frémont, President of the University of Ottawa. The ceremony was followed by the signing of an agreement for the creation of the International Associated Laboratory (LIA) “Joint Institute for Neuromuscular Research” (JIN). This laboratory involves CNRS, the Université de Lyon, the University of Ottawa in addition to INSERM, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research. It is the second Canadian LIA for the University of Ottawa: the first one, “FunCat,” was established in 2013. It carries out research on fundamental catalysis for green chemistry.

Alain Schuhl, CNRS Deputy General Director for Science, Jacques Frémont, President of the University of Ottawa et Frédéric Fleury, President of the University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and Vice-President of the University of Lyon in charge of academic strategy

Credits : University of Ottawa, Valérie Charbonneau, Communication and Marketing Officer