A new fruitful collaboration between the University of Montpellier, the University of French Polynesia, and SATT AxLR

[Press Release] - Published on July 3, 2024 in Press Room

On Wednesday, July 3, 2024, the University of Montpellier, the University of French Polynesia (UPF), and SATT AxLR will strengthen their ties by signing a memorandum of understanding aimed at to enhance expertise, research capabilities, and the commercialization of UPF projects through the presence of the University of Montpellier and SATT AxLR in the southern region. This agreement was signed by Nabila Gaertner, vice-chair of the UPF Research Committee; Philippe Nérin, president of SATT; and Philippe Augé, president of UM.

A longstanding relationship between these universities

In 2020, a promising collaboration was launched between the University of Montpellier and the University of French Polynesia, spearheaded by Jacques Mercier and François Pierrot, vice presidents of the University of Montpellier, and Nabila Gaertner of the University of French Polynesia. This initiative aims to strengthen the University of French Polynesia’s expertise and research capabilities while consolidating the University of Montpellier’s presence in the southern region.

Two framework agreements were signed to formalize this cooperation, underscoring the importance of UM’s support for UPF. Thanks to this partnership, the UPF received backing from the UM and support from SATT AxLR during its application for the “Innovation Outre-Mer” call for expressions of interest, for which it was awarded the Nãhiti project (a project aimed at structuring the innovation ecosystem in French Polynesia).

This partnership enables the UPF to benefit from the expertise of the UM and the SATT AxLR in identifying and analyzing innovation, as well as in sharing best practices and certain standard contracts. In addition, the UM served as a jury member for the call for project funding (Polynnov) as part of the Nahiti project.

A project with unique challenges

This agreement aims to facilitate investment by SATT AxLR, through UM, in French Polynesia, by establishing clear operational, legal, and financial terms for such investments.

Expected benefits:

• For the UPF: access to funding for project development, thereby increasing opportunities for technology transfer and the creation of value from innovations originating in its region.
• For the UM: strengthening academic and scientific ties with a region that offers research opportunities of particular interest to the PEI strategy (southern focus strategy).
• For SATT AxLR: an opportunity to promote innovations in key fields such as health, agronomy, and the environment, with a particular focus on societal challenges in tropical regions.

Commitments:

UPF projects may be submitted to SATT AxLR by UM, subject to joint ownership of intellectual property rights. A technology development agreement will be entered into, defining each party’s contributions and the terms for commercializing the results. SATT AxLR will have an exclusive mandate for commercialization, with revenue sharing in accordance with the provisions of the UM-AxLR framework agreement.

This letter of agreement marks a crucial step toward sustaining and strengthening the collaboration between UM, UPF, and SATT AxLR. It provides a clear and structured framework for supporting and commercializing UPF’s innovations, thereby reinforcing our strategic positioning and our academic and scientific partnerships.