A NAIST delegation, Prof. Tsuyoshi Kawai (Vice Dean, Director of Division of Materials Science), Assist. Prof. Marine Louis (Division of Materials Science), Assist. Prof. Ryota Eguchi (Division of Information Science), and Dr. Takahito Shikano (Institute for Research Initiatives), visited University of Paul Sabatier and Sorbonne University in France from June 7^th to 9^th, 2022.

On June 7^th , the NAIST delegation together with Prof. Hiroharu Ajiro (Division of Materials Science) visited the President office of University of Paul Sabatier (UPS) and met with Profs. Jean-Marc Broto, President, Jean-Pierre Jessel, Vice-President for research Affairs, Fabrice Gamboa, Deputy Vice-President for International Relations, and Gwénaël Rapenne, a cross-appointed professor at UPS and NAIST. At the courtesy visit, Prof. Kawai emphasized the importance of research and educational collaboration between UPS and NAIST. President Jean-Marc Broto fully agreed and expressed his intension that they are willing to further deepen collaboration with NAIST. After the courtesy visit, the delegation had a meeting with UPS professors at doctoral and research schools, as well as the head of the international office, to discuss possible future research and educational collaboration. In the meeting, Prof. Rapenne gave an overview of the past activities of collaboration between UPS and NAIST, and Prof. Kawai introduced research fields and international student support at NAIST. After active discussion, they agreed to strengthen research and educational collaboration between UPS and NAIST.

　　
Discussion to strengthen collaboration between UPS and NAIST.

On June 9^th, the delegation visited Sorbonne University in Paris and met with professors at the Faculty of Science and Engineering and an international project officer to discuss future cooperation between Sorbonne University and NAIST. In the meeting, Prof. Sonia-Athina Karabina gave a presentation to introduce Sorbonne University, and Prof. Kawai provided an introduction to past collaborative activities between Sorbonne University and NAIST. All participants confirmed the importance of further collaboration and agreed to strengthen current collaborative programs. After the meeting, Prof. Kawai and Assist. Prof. Louis had a discussion with Profs. Souhir Boujday, Matthieu Sollogoub, Christophe Petit, Anne-Lise Poquet and Vives Guillaume from Chemistry labs. Likewise, Assist. Prof. Eguchi introduced his research to Profs. Sébastien Tixeuil and Olivier Fourmaux from Computer Science labs.

　
Introduction of Sorbonne University by Prof. Sonia-Athina Karabina.　　　　Discussion to strengthen collaboration between Sorbonne University and NAIST.　

These visits made a vital contribution to the enhancement of further collaboration with UPS and Sorbonne University.

Courtesy visit to UPS President Jean-Marc Broto (4th from right).