Institut Pasteur de São Paulo participated in the inauguration of the international research center, which will focus on strategic areas such as health, circular economy, and engineering.
Scientific cooperation between Brazil and France reached a new milestone this week with the inauguration of the Centro Internacional Conjunto de Pesquisa, Formação e Inovação USP-PSL, the result of a partnership between the University of São Paulo (USP) and Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL), one of France’s most prestigious higher education and research institutions.
The inauguration ceremony took place on June 8 at the University City campus in São Paulo and brought together Brazilian and French academic leaders, as well as representatives from research and innovation institutions from both countries. The Institut Pasteur de São Paulo (IPSP) was represented by Fernando Menezes, Chairman of the Institute’s Administrative Board, Paola Minoprio, Executive Director, and Gérard Chuzel, Head of Financial Administration and Projects.
Located on the USP campus, the new center was established with the mission of developing world-class research addressing major contemporary challenges, bringing together expertise in fields such as health, circular economy, and engineering. The initiative aims to integrate research, education, and innovation within a collaborative environment, further strengthening scientific ties between Europe and Latin America.
During the ceremony, USP Rector Aluisio Segurado emphasized that the partnership with Université PSL reaffirms the University’s commitment to academic excellence, open science, and social and economic development. According to him, the new center creates a lasting institutional link between the two universities, reinforcing existing collaborations in areas such as circular economy and cell therapy, while expanding opportunities for cooperation in other fields with significant impact potential.
Université PSL President El Mouhoub Mouhoud highlighted that the new center is the result of scientific collaborations built by researchers from both universities, supported by the French institution’s leading research programs. In his view, the integration of research, education, innovation, and collaboration creates a unique ecosystem between Université PSL and USP, bringing Europe and Latin America even closer in the search for concrete solutions to environmental and health challenges.
Expanding cooperation – The USP-PSL center begins its activities with a fund of approximately €5 million and will have access to funding opportunities from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). Its objectives include promoting transdisciplinary research, training new talent, and developing shared academic programs between the two universities.
The center’s executive leadership will be jointly held by Professor Fernando Menezes, from USP, and Christian Lerminiaux, from Université PSL.
The creation of the USP-PSL center reinforces USP’s internationalization strategy and expands the international scientific cooperation ecosystem of which the Institut Pasteur de São Paulo is a part. IPSP currently belongs to the network of international centers hosted by the University, contributing to strengthening the presence of leading French research institutions in Brazil and expanding opportunities for scientific collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
