Partnership agreement signed by the AUF and the Institut Pasteur for the creation of four-year research groups in the International Network

On November 26, 2015, the Francophone University Agency (AUF) and the Institut Pasteur signed a partnership agreement under which they will launch a joint international call for applications for the directors of new four-year groups (G4s) in the Institut Pasteur International Network.

The AUF and the Institut Pasteur are keen to strengthen their cooperation in the fields of research, training and teaching, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia.

The mission of the institutes in the International Network is to carry out research on infectious diseases that represent a major challenge for public health. To help them in their pursuit of this mission, while strengthening the scientific momentum in the network and promoting world-class research, the Institut Pasteur has launched the "Four-Year Group" initiative in International Network institutes in countries with limited economic resources.

The aims of these four-year groups are as follows:

• to support young scientists seeking to set up ambitious research programs on infectious, tropical or neglected diseases;

•  to offer new expertise to the institutes in the network;

• to contribute to training programs;

• to foster or strengthen links with national and regional research bodies, particularly universities.

This new partnership between the AUF and the Institut Pasteur will encourage cooperation between the universities in the AUF and the International Network member institutes in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia.

Each scientist in charge of a four-year group will devise an innovative research program on infectious, neglected or tropical diseases. Master's and PhD students at universities in the AUF will be offered internships within the G4 and/or the opportunity to be involved in research projects conducted by the lecturers/researchers from the partner university or universities.