The European Deputy Gaston FRANCO supports the Euro-Mediterranean Research and Higher Education Hub, and the Excellence Network of Island Territories (RETI).
The European deputy closely follows the projects of this Franco-Italian Research Hub, which has been uniting six universities since 2008: Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Corsica, Pierre and Marie Curie (which includes the Oceanographic Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer), South Toulon-Var, Genoa, and Turin.
Primarily focused on the themes of “environment, sustainable development, and societies,” the PRES is also strongly oriented towards the Mediterranean basin.
In March 2010, Gaston FRANCO had already organized a trip to Brussels in the presence of Albert MAROUANI, President of the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis, and the other five presidents of the PRES.
Since then, many advancements have emerged, notably the desire of the PRES to establish a cross-border European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) regrouping universities, which will be the first in Europe.
The current President of the Euro-Mediterranean PRES, Antoine AIELLO (President of the University of Corsica), presented a project of cross-border university exchanges aiming to create a European research area.
Called Euro Campus Méditerranée, this program allows student researchers to study in the summer at a partner university with special financial support.
Various flagship projects have also been highlighted, such as research projects in the field of environmental science, including the MYRTHE project, Renewable Hydrogen Mission for integration into the electrical grid, or the STELLA MARE project for the integrated management and control of fishery and coastal resources in Corsica.
The Excellence Network of Island Territories (RETI), on the other hand, aims to create a research space around issues posed by island specificities. This unique network brings together European universities (Corsica, Sicily, Sardinia, Malta…) and others from around the world (Cuba, Madagascar, Cape Verde, Balearic Islands, Japan…) organized around projects and actions in research, training, innovation, and technology transfer.
“Cross-border and transnational cooperation in the academic field is essential to advance the exchange of knowledge and expertise within the EU and between the EU and the rest of the world. It brings forth research projects capable, in the long term, of creating jobs, promoting smart and sustainable growth, and an environmentally friendly and competitive economy.
I commend the existence of projects such as those of the PRES and RETI.
Europe, within the framework of the 2020 strategy, provides them with the means to succeed,” concludes Gaston FRANCO.
