The sun rises on UM-Japan partnerships
On the occasion of Japan Week in Occitanie, the University of Montpellier and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science organized a day of discussions on international academic cooperation between France and Japan on November 30.
This was an opportunity to discuss and strengthen the various collaborations between our university and our Japanese partners.
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) reports directly to Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho). It is somewhat equivalent to Campus France,"explains Jean-Marie Pincemin, head of the cooperation department (Scoop) at the international relations division. Director Kazuhiko Saigo and his colleagues Junko Fujimoto and Chika Koda traveled from Strasbourg, where the JSPS office for Southern Europe is based, to take part in this day of discussions, which was also attended by the Consul General of Japan in Marseille, Yukuo Murata, President Philippe Augé, and Patrick Caron, Vice President in charge of international relations. "Not all countries have this type of representation, but Japan recognizes France as a major scientific partner," continued the department head.
Human adventures
The aim of this event was to promote scientific cooperation by highlighting cooperation programs, particularly funding programs, for researchers wishing to strengthen or engage in cooperation with Japan. "Every year, the JSPS launches a call forapplications open to all Professors research professors. We took advantage of this day to invite the three current UM winners to come and present their projects," continues Jean-Marie Pincemin. Nicolas Louvain and Werner Paulus, researchers at the Charles Gerhardt Montpellier Institute, and Marc Willinger from the Montpellier Center for Environmental Economics came to share their experiences.
"Informing the UM scientific community that these opportunities exist and that we are here to support them if they are interested in pursuing them is one of the DRI's missions," explains Jean-Marie Pincemin. The testimonials of Julien Audemard, Bruno Clair, and Sandrine Bardet, all three alumni, also highlighted the human dimension of international cooperation, recounting their daily lives and those of their families in Japan.
Institutional and industrial partnerships
Other funding may also enable French researchers to enter into partnerships and undertake mobility programs in Japan. "Campus France has an office in each embassy through which the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs funds cooperation programs," explains Scoop's director of services. This is particularly the case for Hubert Curien (PHC) partnerships, which operate on the principle of reciprocal funding, with "each country funding the travel expenses of its own teams."In the case of Japan, it is the PHC Sakura that enables doctoral students, teachers, and researchers to undertake scientific stays as part of two-year projects.
Japanese companies are also excellent partners for university research. In his introductory remarks, Philippe Augé highlighted the strong ties between UM and Horiba Medical, a company based in Montpellier: this was illustrated by its Deputy CEO, Mr. Sylvain Jacquemin, who highlighted research projects, the hosting of student interns, and the funding of CIFRE doctoral contracts, in partnership with the Pathogenesis & Control of Chronic Infections Laboratoryheaded by Philippe Van de Perre.
A wide variety of common research topics
Renowned for being a world leader in technology, Japan also has some lesser-known characteristics. "Consul Yukuo Murata pointed out in his presentation that 70% of Japan is covered by forests," says Jean-Marie Pincemin. " It is in this context that interesting links have been forged with the master's program in wood, for example."
"Like Europe, Japan faces challenges related to its aging population and is developing numerous projects focusing on medical and technological issues, as well as ethics, law, sociology, and economics. It is also a very agricultural country... The opportunities for collaboration between our two countries are potentially rich and highly diverse," concludes the head of Scoop.