Fostering research excellence
in EU Outermost Regions
Fostering research excellence
IRD is a French public science and technology body jointly managed by the French Ministries of Rsearch and Foreign Affairs. Its network and operations incorpotate 50 countries with a unique approach to research, expertise, training and sharing knowledge for the benefit of regions and countries with science and innovation as one of their main drivers for development.
It operates in Africa, the Mediterranean, Asia, Latin American and French overseas territories. Joint projects are base on an interdisciplinary approach and address vital questions for the regions of the South, such as tropical and societal diseases, the link between health and the environment, climate change, water resources, food safety, tropical and Mediterranean ecosystems, natural hazards, poverty, vulnerability and social inequality, migration and labour market changes, etc.
Research topics
IRD’s research is built around three major and closely-related global issues in line with the Strategic Orientation Plan 2016-2030 and the Report on the Scientific Situation and Outlooks produced in September 2015 by its scientific bodies :
IRD is committed to sharing resources and helping to equip facilities with the latest technology, not only in mainland France, but also in French overseas territories.
A number of technological platforms provide cutting-edge research, such as ALYSES, for the study of tropical soils and sediments, or CapMédiTrop, for the genetic analysis of cultivated tropical plants.
In terms of health, several medical research laboratories, specialising in HIV in Thailand or malaria in Benin, help meet public health needs in the countries of the South. The French National Centre of Vector Research (Cnev) adds to measures taken to combat infectious diseases.
A large amount of resources are devoted to observing and studying ecosystems : satellite antenna networks (SEAS), research observatories for the environment (ORE) and tropical plant habitats in Noumea and Cayenne.
IRD’s main mission, including its French overseas territories network, is to produce research to develop , reinforce and make scientific communities and systems of higher education and research in the partner countries more independent. The Young Associate Teams (JEAI) and Combined International Laboratories (LMI) provide support for researchers and programmes. They strengthen research teams through scientific partnerships with IRD research units.
IRD works with all participating public and private stakeholders on sustainable development issues by considering research work as part of a co-creation process, to transform lifestyles and economic models.
As such, the Institute acts as a driver for open and responsible innovation and as part of the ecosystems for innovation in developing countries, which can be seen, particularly in
initiatives launched by the Innovation Campuses for the Planet.
IRD provides scientific input as systematically as possible in scientific expertise and practical initiatives.
As a supporter of “protecting for sharing”, IRD seeks to match the practical, economic application of research with its vision of science. It seeks to apply research with a fair reward
for all contributions and to ensure scientific communities and populations in emerging countries and French overseas territories have full access to research findings.
The French agricultural research centre for international development (Cirad), the Institut Pasteur, IRD and universities in French tropical regions (Reunion, West Indies, French Guiana, New Caledonia and French Polynesia) are working together to apply French scientific research for development in countries of the South by creating the technology transfer consortium “Valorisation Sud”.
Valorisation Sud has been endorsed by the Investments for the Future initiative. With a budget of 9 million euros over a tenyear period, the consortium is the France’s standard-bearer for technology transfer and skills tailored to inter-tropical regions and developing countries.
The Department for the Mobilisation of Research and Innovation provides support for three types of specialist input on request :
The Department for the Mobilisation of Research and Innovation coordinates the development of its activities in relation to the departments and services of the Scientific Centre, the Development, Global Issues and Partnerships Centre, the Research and International Scientific Development Support Centre and the joint research units.
International collaboration is an inherent part of research activities.
The main issues involved in research for development have a global reach (pandemics, climate, migrations, etc.). So research cannot be carried out alone, but only in partnership with other teams, to harness broad and varied skills, and combine the critical mass required to advance knowledge.
Furthermore, research for development aims to help boost the scientific capacities of the South as part of a partnership and help apply research for the economic benefit of the South.
Lastly, international collaboration is necessary to be part of international scientific research competition. Co-publications with partners underpin the quality of research fundings.
IRD is committed to sharing resources and helping to equip facilities with the latest technology, not only in mainland France, but also in French overseas territories.
A number of technological platforms provide cutting-edge research, such as ALYSES, for the study of tropical soils and sediments, or CapMédiTrop, for the genetic analysis of cultivated tropical plants.
In terms of health, several medical research laboratories, specialising in HIV in Thailand or malaria in Benin, help meet public health needs in the countries of the South. The French National Centre of Vector Research (Cnev) adds to measures taken to combat infectious diseases.
A large amount of resources are devoted to observing and studying ecosystems : satellite antenna networks (SEAS), research observatories for the environment (ORE) and tropical plant habitats in Noumea and Cayenne.
IRD’s main mission, including its French overseas territories network, is to produce research to develop , reinforce and make scientific communities and systems of higher education and research in the partner countries more independent. The Young Associate Teams (JEAI) and Combined International Laboratories (LMI) provide support for researchers and programmes. They strengthen research teams through scientific partnerships with IRD research units.
IRD works with all participating public and private stakeholders on sustainable development issues by considering research work as part of a co-creation process, to transform lifestyles and economic models.
As such, the Institute acts as a driver for open and responsible innovation and as part of the ecosystems for innovation in developing countries, which can be seen, particularly in
initiatives launched by the Innovation Campuses for the Planet.
IRD provides scientific input as systematically as possible in scientific expertise and practical initiatives.
As a supporter of “protecting for sharing”, IRD seeks to match the practical, economic application of research with its vision of science. It seeks to apply research with a fair reward
for all contributions and to ensure scientific communities and populations in emerging countries and French overseas territories have full access to research findings.
The French agricultural research centre for international development (Cirad), the Institut Pasteur, IRD and universities in French tropical regions (Reunion, West Indies, French Guiana, New Caledonia and French Polynesia) are working together to apply French scientific research for development in countries of the South by creating the technology transfer consortium “Valorisation Sud”.
Valorisation Sud has been endorsed by the Investments for the Future initiative. With a budget of 9 million euros over a tenyear period, the consortium is the France’s standard-bearer for technology transfer and skills tailored to inter-tropical regions and developing countries.
The Department for the Mobilisation of Research and Innovation provides support for three types of specialist input on request :
The Department for the Mobilisation of Research and Innovation coordinates the development of its activities in relation to the departments and services of the Scientific Centre, the Development, Global Issues and Partnerships Centre, the Research and International Scientific Development Support Centre and the joint research units.
International collaboration is an inherent part of research activities.
The main issues involved in research for development have a global reach (pandemics, climate, migrations, etc.). So research cannot be carried out alone, but only in partnership with other teams, to harness broad and varied skills, and combine the critical mass required to advance knowledge.
Furthermore, research for development aims to help boost the scientific capacities of the South as part of a partnership and help apply research for the economic benefit of the South.
Lastly, international collaboration is necessary to be part of international scientific research competition. Co-publications with partners underpin the quality of research fundings.
