2025 was marked by profound transformations, both politically and institutionally. The change of administration in the United States has reconfigured the landscape of our bilateral scientific cooperation, calling on our service to adapt its priorities, identify new interlocutors and affirm the value of French-American commitment in the field of research and innovation. The Office for Science and Technology itself has gone through a period of transition. Under the successive direction of Mireille Guyader, then of Joaquim Nassar acting as interim manager, the service maintained the continuity of its actions before I took responsibility in September. I would like to thank them both for their dedication to the service of our scientific diplomacy and salute these two great servants of the French government.
French-American scientific cooperation rests on solid, time-tested foundations. For decades, researchers, universities, and institutions have maintained ties that transcend political cycles. The celebration of the Science Diplomats Club’s 60th anniversary this year served as a powerful testament to this. It is upon this legacy that the department builds as it continues to work – methodically and steadfastly – to strengthen this bilateral relationship.
It is with this same mindset that the department has shaped its activities. While artificial intelligence and environmental issues have naturally defined part of our agenda – driven by major international events such as the Paris AI Summit, the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, and the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement – our work has extended far beyond these areas, encompassing the full spectrum of research and innovation: life sciences, quantum technology, space, energy, and the humanities and social sciences. It is this broad, sustained presence across the United States that gives our science diplomacy its unique character and strength.
The department has also worked to strengthen programs aimed at fostering attractiveness and mobility. Promoting “Choose France for Science” in several major U.S. cities, along with the implementation of bilateral funds and doctoral exchange programs, has helped maintain substantial flows between our two countries and open up new avenues for long-term collaboration.
Our activities are structured around four complementary missions, detailed in the following report: developing bilateral cooperation, facilitating talent mobility, supporting French innovation, and showcasing French scientific communities in the United States. This framework shapes our priorities and guides all our interactions with our American partners.
French-American scientific cooperation rests on solid foundations. The challenges it faces call not for retrenchment, but for the deepening of partnerships, a resolute defense of academic freedom, and heightened vigilance in promoting our shared interests.
Wishing you a great read,
Didier Marty-Dessus
Counselor for Science and Technology