On December 2, 2024, HFSPO Secretary-General Pavel Kabat joined prominent figures in Paris to celebrate the 50th anniversary of scientific cooperation between France and Japan, a significant milestone underscoring the enduring relationship between the two countries in science.
“French-Japanese scientific cooperation is exemplary in many regards,” Patrick Hetzel, France’s Minister of Higher Education and Research, noted in a speech at a reception hosted by the Embassy of Japan in Paris. “France is proud to say that our scientific cooperation with Japan aspires to be as cross-disciplinary as possible. This allows for an intersectional approach, better suited to address global challenges, Hetzel said.
In their exchange, Minister Hetzel and Secretary-General Kabat underlined the importance of the discovery of basic science and international collaboration, both key values behind HFSPO, in addressing the challenges of the 21st century. "Science is not a problem, Science is a solution," commented Minister Hetzel in his address to the distinguished audience gathered this occasion at the official residence of Makita Shimokawa, Ambassador of Japan to France.
HFSPO, headquartered in Strasbourg, France, embodies the French commitment to interdisciplinary and international collaboration. At a forum marking the 50th anniversary held at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Kabat highlighted HFSP’s unique mission of supporting groundbreaking research in the life sciences and its role in reinforcing France-Japan scientific ties. Over the past 35 years, HFSP has funded 218 French and Japanese scientists across 86 jointly awarded teams, enabling interdisciplinary and innovative projects that transcend scientific boundaries.
Other distinguished figures at the forum who paid homage to the knowledge and innovations gained from Japan-France cooperation in science and technology included Antoine Petit, Chairman and CEO, CNRS, who lauded the institutional connections in science that France and Japan have forged; Claire Giry, President and CEO of the French National Research Agency (ANR), who highlighted a 2023 bilateral call for proposals in edge AI research; and Kazuhito Hashimoto, president of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), who noted France’s participation in JST’s ASPIRE program to create international scientific talent networks. The forum also featured a keynote speech on molecular machines and motors by Jean-Pierre Sauvage, emeritus professor at the University of Strasbourg and 2016 Nobel Laureate in chemistry.
This milestone event highlighted not only the achievements of France-Japan cooperation but also the vital role of government support in fostering an ecosystem where science can thrive. France's leadership in promoting international research through initiatives like HFSP inspires global collaboration.
To learn more about HFSP's contributions to France-Japan cooperation and its broader impact, explore the full brochure here.