A high-level delegation from the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) following the inauguration of CNRS's 11th office in Nairobi, visited TU-K as part of CNRS's multi-annual collaboration plan with African institutions.
CNRS, is the leading research institution in the world in terms of number of scientific publications. It is an interdisciplinary public research organisation under the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, employs 33,800 individuals, with two-thirds being scientists and one-third of foreign nationalities. The organisation operates over 1,100 research laboratories globally.
The delegation, led by Prof. Alain Mermet, CNRS Director of European and International Affairs, included Ms. Clarisse Munier, CNRS Deputy Director of International Affairs for Africa and the Middle East, and Dr. Benoit Hazard, Director of the Nairobi regional office. They were received by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benedict Mutua, Deputy Vice-Chancellor -Institutional Advancement and Enterprise, Prof. Paul Wambua, along with other senior university officials.
Over the years, TU-K's French language students, specialising in different fields of study including, engineering, architecture, hospitality and many others have excelled, securing exchange programmes, scholarships, and teaching positions in France. This success has spurred CNRS's interest in expanding collaboration, training, and research with TU-K.
The visit aimed to present collaboration proposals and discuss strengthening existing partnerships with French universities in linguistics, engineering, digital sciences, ecology, and physics.
Prof. Mutua highlighted TU-K's strengths in research and training, emphasising the University's hands-on approach and industry partnerships. He also appreciated the support the TU-K has had from the French Embassy, pointing out that France stands as number one in the collaborations TU-K has and still ongoing.
Prof. Mermet outlined CNRS's goals for collaboration with African universities, including fostering links between training and research, and establishing exchange programs for doctoral and post-doctoral students. He identified key thematic areas for collaboration, such as climate change, educational inequalities, artificial intelligence, health and environment, future territories, and energy transition.
Both parties expressed a strong desire to work together, with CNRS committing to send reviewed research areas of interest for TU-K's consideration. Funding opportunities for successful proposals would also be considered, marking a promising step towards mutual advancement in research and innovation.
The CNRS proposes a multi-year roadmap, following a trajectory that is deployed gradually and involving high-level programmes to support and encourage research, training and innovation in and with Africa.
