Our partners
Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Innovation
MESRI/DGRI
DGRI, the French research and innovation agency, is in charge of shaping the national research strategy in close collaboration with other ministries and all stakeholders. It deploys this strategy across the main fields of science, and implements and assesses it to help boost the nation’s innovation capabilities.
National scientific research centre
CNRS/INSU
CNRS, the French national scientific research centre, is one of the world’s premier research institutions. Its scientists are exploring the living world, matter, the universe and the functioning of human societies to meet the major challenges of today and tomorrow. Internationally renowned for the excellence of its scientific work, CNRS is a leading light in the world of research and development, as well as for the general public.
French space agency
CNES
Founded in 1961, CNES is the government agency responsible for shaping and implementing France’s space policy in five strategic domains: Ariane, science, Earth observation, telecommunications and defence. It is a key component of France’s economic diplomacy, helping French industry to secure many wins.
French institute of marine research and exploration
Ifremer
One of the world’s leading marine science and technology research institutes, Ifremer is pursuing a vision guided by the dual perspective of sustainable development and open science. It leads research, provides expertise and spawns innovations to preserve and restore the oceans, exploit their resources responsibly, share marine data and propose new services. Ifremer conceives its own cutting-edge craft and equipment to explore and observe the oceans, from coasts to the high seas and from the seafloor to the interface with the atmosphere.
French national mapping and survey agency
IGN
IGN is the government agency tasked with generating, collecting and disseminating geographic and forest data vital to inform public policies for hazard mitigation, environmental conservation and land planning. It develops partnerships and federates efforts within a collaborative ecosystem, guaranteeing a rich, comprehensive and current corpus of geographic information.
National development research institute
IRD
The IRD development research institute is an internationally renowned, multi-disciplinary organization working primarily in partnership with Mediterranean and intertropical countries. IRD is a government agency overseen by the Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is pursuing through its network and presence in 50 countries an original approach to research, expertise, training and knowledge sharing for communities and countries that are making science and innovation one of the main levers of their development.
National research institute for agriculture, food and the environment
INRAE
As the nation’s premier research organization specializing in agriculture, food and the environment, INRAE charts new courses through its research, innovation and support for public policies to offer solutions for life, humans and Earth. It undertakes and coordinates scientific and technological research in the domains of agriculture and food, as well as forests, the environment, water, biodiversity, the bio-economy, the circular economy and sustainable land management.
Meteo France
Meteo-France is France’s national weather and climatology service, exercising the government’s responsibilities with respect to weather safety for people and property. Its prerogatives include forecasting and studying weather phenomena, snow pack and sea state, and issuing severe weather warnings for France’s mainland and overseas territories. It is also tasked with preserving climate records and establishing global and regional climate projections.
Earth physics institute
IPGP
The IPGP Earth physics institute in Paris is a world-renowned centre of geoscience research, studying Earth and planets from the core to their surface liquid shell through remote sensing, experimentation and modelling. It focuses in particular on long-duration observations that are vital when studying natural systems. IPGP is in charge of accredited observation services in the domains of volcanology, seismology, magnetism, gravimetry and erosion through its permanent stations on the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion, and at Chambon-la-Forêt in mainland France.
French atomic energy and alternative energies commission
CEA
CEA is a government agency playing a key role in research, development and innovation in the four domains of security and defence, low-carbon energies (nuclear and renewable), technology research for industry and fundamental research (material science and life science). It is contributing its renowned expertise to collaborative projects with numerous partners in academia and industry.
French naval hydrographic and oceanographic office
SHOM
SHOM, which traces its heritage back to the world’s first official hydrographic service in 1720, is a government agency overseen by the Ministry of Armed Forces. It is the national operator for maritime and littoral geographic information. Its mission is to understand and describe the physical marine environment and its interactions with the atmosphere, the ocean floor and coastal zones, and to predict its evolution and disseminate dedicated data.
French geological survey
BRGM
BRGM, the French geological survey, is the leading national public institution for Earth science applications managing surface and sub-surface resources and risks. Its ambition is to address such key issues as climate change, the energy transition and the development of a circular economy. Focused on geosciences, BRGM is developing expertise to support harmonized management and responsible use of urban and rural surface and sub-surface areas. Its actions are geared towards scientific research, informing public policies and international cooperation.
Hazards, environment, mobility and land planning research centre
CEREMA
CEREMA is a government agency focused on informing public policies. Addressing scientific and technical issues, as well as the major social challenges of sustainable development and land and urban planning, its know-how and expertise seeks to improve citizens’ lives.
Centre for international cooperation in agronomic research through development
CIRAD
CIRAD is the French agronomic research and international cooperation organization working for the sustainable development of Southern Nations. It is focused on such key topics as agriculture, food security, climate change, biodiversity, reducing inequalities or animal and plant health. With its partners in the southern hemisphere, CIRAD is bringing its scientific and institutional expertise to bear to inform public policies and international debate on the main challenges facing agriculture.
French industrial environment and risks institute
INERIS
Formed in 1990, INERIS is the result of the merger of the French collieries research centre (CERCHAR) and the Institute of applied chemical research (IRCHA). With nearly 70 years of know-how and expertise, its mission is to help prevent risks caused by economic activities to health, the environment and the safety of people and property.
French aerospace research agency
ONERA
With its 70 years of experience, ONERA has been a pivotal player in the history of world aviation. Its mission is to:
- Develop and guide research activities in the aerospace field
- Design, develop and deploy the resources required to conduct this research
- Disseminate the results of its research at national and international levels, promote their use by the aerospace industry and facilitate their application outside the aerospace field
Cote d’Azur Observatory
OCA
OCA is a national higher education and research institution and universe sciences observatory performing scientific research, providing observation services and outreach. It federates and leads the region’s research activities in Earth and universe sciences through its Galilée joint service unit and three joint research units: Artemis, Geoazur and Lagrange.
With its 450 people located at four sites, OCA is one of 25 French universe science observatories responsible for the continuous and systematic collection of observational data on the Earth and the universe.
Université Paris Sciences et Lettres
Paris Observatory – PSL
Founded in 1667, the Paris Observatory is France’s largest hub for astronomy research, where 30% of French astronomers are conducting their research within five laboratories and an institute. Spread across three campuses in Paris, Meudon and Nançay, these are all joint research units overseen by the national scientific research centre CNRS and the major science universities of the Paris region. The Paris Observatory’s three main missions are to pursue in-depth research in the field of universe science, provide initial and continuous education, and to conduct outreach.
Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Ecole polytechnique
The Ecole polytechnique is one of 205 French engineering schools accredited to award engineering degrees. It is also an inter-disciplinary research centre federating 23 laboratories, 22 of which are co-overseen with CNRS. Its students are engaged in eight areas of research :
– Bio-engineering, biology and health
– Concepts and methods for the digital age
– Energies, transport and the environment
– Modelling and optimization of complex systems
– Matter and light in extreme conditions
– Markets, innovation and science/society relations
– Nanosciences, innovative materials and efficient processes
– Universal structures and laws
Sorbonne University
Sorbonne University is a world-class, multi-disciplinary and research-driven university. With its 55,300 students, 6,400 academic researchers and partner researchers, and 3,600 administrative and technical staff working across 135 research units, it aims to develop its impact and attractiveness in Europe and the international arena. Covering disciplines from the humanities to medicine and technological sciences, formal sciences (mathematics) and natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, etc.), Sorbonne University is addressing the issues raised by our environment and society from a cross-disciplinary perspective.
University of Lille
The University of Lille is a multi-disciplinary university of excellence at the heart of Northern Europe, boasting an outstanding cultural and scientific heritage. With its 73,000 students (of whom 9,502 are international students), 6,700 employees and 66 research units, it is seeking to join the ranks of France’s best research universities. In partnership with CNRS, Inserm, INRIA, INRAE, top engineering schools, the Lille regional teaching hospital and the Institut Pasteur, it is developing top-flight research and technology and service innovations through major scientific projects, cutting-edge technologies and partnerships with socio-economic stakeholders.
Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrenees
The Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrenees’ 7,000 scientists, 5,000 administrative and technical staff and nearly 4,500 doctoral students make it one of the five leading research hubs in France, with a scientific strategy focused on six inter-disciplinary fields:
– Global and dynamic changes in ecosystems
– Ecological transition of energy and materials
– Aeronautics, space and new mobilities
– Data sciences and digital society
– Regulations, heritage, cultures and societies
– Health, biology and well-being
Grenoble-Alpes University
Rooted in its territory, multi-disciplinary and open to the world, Grenoble-Alpes University (UGA) has 55,000 students (8,500 of them international students) and 6,600 staff working across several campuses. National research institutions CEA, CNRS, INRIA, Inserm, INRAE, IRD and Grenoble teaching hospital are closely partnering the university to develop a common international research and spin-off policy. UGA also received IDEX accreditation in 2016, a distinction that only 10 other universities in France have achieved.
Clermont-Auvergne University
Formed in 2017, Clermont-Auvergne University operates within national and international networks striving to produce and disseminate knowledge. It has some 35,000 students, 3,320 teaching staff (1,281 of them scientists) and 1,937 technical and administrative staff at 35 laboratories. Covering all fields of knowledge, it intends to pursue an innovative policy for initial and continuous education, research and the workplace insertion of its students, while playing a key role in its city and on the international stage.
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg boasts nearly five centuries of history, illustrious names, a rich academic heritage and a prime European location. Every year, it welcomes more than 52,000 students—20% of whom are international students—and has 5,700 teaching researchers and personnel, 35 training and research units and 71 research units. With such impressive figures, the University of Strasbourg has much to offer through its multi-disciplinary learning and research offering and its exceptional culture and heritage.
University of Montpellier
From space exploration and robotics to eco-engineering or chronic diseases, the University of Montpellier’s researchers are inventing new solutions for humankind and our environment. With its 16 faculties, schools and institutes, and 72 research structures, UM federates a vast community of knowledge ranging from science, technology, physical and sports activities, medicine and pharmacy to law, political science, economics and management.
UM is playing a prime role driving forward the Occitanie region and is resolutely open to the world. It is internationally renowned in numerous scientific fields such as biology and health, agri-environment, chemistry, information and communication sciences and technologies, law and management.
Hauts-de-France regional council
The Hauts-de-France regional council is Data Terra’s only local government partner. As France’s leading farming region, it is strongly committed to agriculture, developing its territory, the environment and digital technologies—all focuses shared with Data Terra and its data hubs.
Institute of life and environment sciences and industries
AgroParisTech
This top-flight international institution is addressing the daunting 21st-century challenges of feeding populations while managing land sustainably, preserving natural resources, spurring innovations and incorporating the bio-economy. AgroParisTech is spread across eight campuses in France, five training and research departments, 24 joint research units, one experimental farm, one technology hall and open ‘Inn Lab’ third places. With more than 2,000 students and 230 teaching researchers, it is pursuing two fundamental missions:
– train engineers within an extended and vocational structure encompassing other academic curricula, through regional or subject-matter networks
– produce and disseminate knowledge (research and development) in partnership with leading research organizations and professional technical centres
