Indian Institute of Technology Dehli
Sorbonne University was recently awarded funding for the creation of a French-Indian campus in the Indo-Pacific, with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) as its primary partner.
The call for projects was launched by the Ministries of Europe and Foreign Affairs and of Higher Education and Research. It was designed to strengthen academic and scientific cooperation with India, and more specifically in the field of life sciences for health.
the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) has numerous centers of excellence, along with many complementary research areas with Sorbonne University in health and life sciences.
Sorbonne University and IITD have agreed to collaborate on an Integrated Health program. This program will bring together students, researchers, innovation partners and industry to establish a virtual campus that will reinforce mobility across the board between France and the Indo-Pacific region.
It’s about using the strengths and resources of both universities to serve a global mission.
Alexandre Escargueil is a professor at Sorbonne University, biomedical expert in Molecular Biology & Genetics, and Pharmacology & Toxicology. He is also driving Sorbonne University’s role in the French-Indian agreement. This month, he will travel to India with a delegation from Sorbonne University to advance this exciting collaboration.
In what ways do the strengths of France and India align in the field of Health?
In India, healthcare services are growing alongside the rise of its middle-class population, which is demanding new drugs, health systems and the like. In the meantime, here in France there is a big push for digital health and global health, which means approaching healthcare from multiple angles. With our Indian partners, we won’t only be working in life sciences, but also with biomedical engineering, electronics, artificial intelligence and more. Ultimately, it’s about using the strengths and resources of both universities to serve a global mission.
Why is cross-cultural mobility important in this particular case?
France and India don’t really have a common history. Typically, Indian students travel to English-speaking countries, and don’t see France as an obvious option for academic exchanges. France is well known for its style, for example, but isn’t always considered a scientific culture. So we’d like to show that France is a great option for education and research, present our strengths in science, and introduce French and European culture to students and peers in India.
In France, there is a lot of ignorance about India. Many French people don’t understand the extent of the diversity in India – regions, people, climates, and so much more. We have a lot to learn. And our students typically stay in Europe or go to North and South America or Africa for their academic exchanges. We want to encourage them to discover the exciting opportunities that await them in India.
