This spring, Concordia planted the seeds for several high-profile and high-potential collaborations with partner organizations in France.
Concordia President Graham Carr accompanied Martine Biron, Quebec's minister of higher education, on a special partnership-building mission to France on March 30 and 31. During the trip, Quebec universities and CEGEPs signed approximately 20 cooperation agreements with French institutions in support of research, joint degrees and mobility programs.
Inserm Chairman and CEO Didier Samuel and Concordia President Graham Carr sign the collaboration agreement between their institutions.
Carr signed two accords on behalf of the university.
Elite engineering exchange
The first established a new bilateral exchange for students and faculty between the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science and L'École polytechnique de Paris, both of which rank among the world's best engineering schools in multiple disciplines.
The program becomes the latest opportunity for Concordia students in France, where the university maintains more than 50 active academic exchanges.
"Partnership agreements like the one with l'X' constitute a strategic priority for Concordia," says Carr. "In a moment of restricted immigration and increased competition for talent, collaborations with likeminded institutions help strengthen the international character of our university and expand the talent pipeline for Quebec."
Past partnership reignited
At the same time, the mission afforded Concordia the chance to revive an innovative partnership that unfortunately fell dormant during the pandemic. Carr finalized an agreement with the French newspaper, Le Monde, confirming that the university will participate in the 2026 edition of the Le Monde Festival in Paris.
In 2018 and 2019, Concordia served as a co-host for the Montreal version of the same event, which brought together Quebec and French thought leaders from academic, economic, cultural, political, scientific and innovation sectors to debate and share ideas.
With the agreement, Concordia and Le Monde commit to developing a new slate of activities, inspired by "the spirit of the Le Monde Festival," to take place in Montreal next year.
"The renewal of Concordia's collaboration with Le Monde not only shines a spotlight on Montreal as a global hub of culture and creativity," notes Carr. "It also reaffirms that universities are at the heart of the city's unique artistic and intellectual environment."
New alliance in health sciences
Finally, in April, Concordia signed a new collaboration agreement with Inserm (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale), France's leading public research organization dedicated to human health and medical sciences.
The partnership aims to strengthen international cooperation in health-related research by creating new opportunities for student exchanges, joint academic initiatives and collaborative research projects in areas of mutual interest within the health sciences.
On Concordia's side, the collaboration will begin in the Gina Cody School. However, the program is open to supporting collaborative activities across other disciplines.
"Exchanging ideas and talent with Inserm aligns with Concordia's growing focus on the health sciences in GCS, in the School of Health and across the university," says Carr. "We share a common goal of improving the wellbeing of all citizens by advancing knowledge, developing innovative treatments and addressing gaps in our respective healthcare systems."
In addition to the new collaborations with l'X, Le Monde and Inserm, Concordia previously announced the establishment of a novel academic pathway for students from the renowned Marcq Institution, which is located near Lille.
About Ecole Polytechnique
Ecole Polytechnique (l'X), founded in 1794, is among the most prestigious academic institutions in France. Specializing in science and engineering, it is distinguished by its academic excellence and cutting-edge research. Its 23 internationally renowned laboratories are at the forefront of innovation, contributing to significant scientific advancements. Each year, the Ecole Polytechnique welcomes faculty and students from around the world, with 40 per cent of the campus population being international.
About Le Monde
Founded in 1944, Le Monde is France's leading national daily newspaper, reaching nearly 700,000 subscribers. Supported by a newsroom of 570 journalists located across France and around the world, Le Monde publishes approximately 100 pieces of content each day, including articles, podcasts, videos and digital formats, helping readers make sense of the defining issues of our time. Since March 2024, the Fund for Press Independence has been the majority shareholder of the Le Monde group, holding a 72 per cent stake.
About Inserm
Founded in 1964, Inserm is a public scientific and technological institute that operates under the joint authority of the French Ministries of Health and Research. The institute is dedicated to biomedical research and human health and is involved in the entire range of activities from the laboratory to the patient's bedside. It also partners with the most prestigious research institutions in the world, which are also committed to scientific challenges and progress in these fields.
Find out more about the university's collaborations worldwide.
