French government honors former USP rector for his contribution to strengthening scientific cooperation between Brazil and France and for supporting the creation of the Institut Pasteur of São Paulo.
Professor Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, former Rector of the University of São Paulo (USP) and current President of the USP Agency for National and International Academic Cooperation (Aucani), was awarded the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) on June 10, one of the highest distinctions granted by the French Republic.
The honor was presented by the Consul General of France in São Paulo, Alexandra Mias, on behalf of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, during a ceremony held at the Residence of France in São Paulo.
The distinction recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to strengthening relations between France and other countries. In Carlotti’s case, the award highlights his decisive role in consolidating French-Brazilian scientific cooperation, particularly through his support for the creation and development of the Institut Pasteur of São Paulo (IPSP).
As Dean of Graduate Studies and later as Rector of USP, Carlotti played a key role in building the partnership between the University of São Paulo and the Institut Pasteur, France. Among his most important contributions was his leadership in transforming the Scientific Platform Pasteur-USP into the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo (IPSP), his institutional support for strengthening cooperation between the two institutions, and his mobilization of different sectors of the university to create the legal and administrative framework that enabled the institute’s establishment.
During his tenure as Rector, USP approved its participation as a founding member of the Institut Pasteur of São Paulo, a Brazilian non-profit organization recognized as serving the public interest and created in partnership with the Institut Pasteur. This initiative marked a milestone in the university’s history and paved the way for the consolidation of an innovative model of international scientific cooperation.
Carlotti also witnessed the signing of the agreement establishing the IPSP, which took place in Paris in 2023 in the presence of Brazilian and French authorities, and supported the integration of the institute into USP’s internationalization strategy. His commitment contributed to making the IPSP a reference in scientific cooperation between Brazil and France, bringing together world-class research infrastructure, Brazilian and international researchers, and programs addressing major contemporary public health challenges.
The distinction awarded to Carlotti joins those previously bestowed upon Paola Minoprio, Executive Director of the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, and former USP presidents Marco Antonio Zago and Vahan Agopyan, who were also decorated with the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur.