Collaboration Mechanisms

To date, the following projects have been funded as part of the joint CNRS-Imperial PhD programme.  

See more information on the programme here.

A central pillar of the partnership between the two institutions, the CNRS-Imperial 'Abraham de Moivre' International Research Laboratory focuses on all domains of mathematics and of their interactions with physics, computer science, biology, economics, social sciences. The creation of the first Franco-British research laboratory, the IRL Abraham de Moivre in mathematics testifies to the desire for a deep and lasting commitment that has concretized the long-standing bottom-up interactions (visiting fellowships) between Imperial and the French mathematical community. Involvement of students and regular seminar series and events (virtual and in-person). 

The maths collaboration has fuelled other areas of collaboration like Physics and Integrative Biology.

Director: Prof. Greg Pavliotis, Professor of Applied Mathematics, Imperial

See further information about the IRL here.

This international research network builds on the collaboration and complementarity of expertise in the field of theoretical physics and mathematical physics between the CNRS and Imperial. More specifically, it builds upon the theory of superstrings and strongly coupled field theories, an area which has seen drastic advances in recent years and is relevant for a wide spectrum of problems, ranging from fundamental aspects of quantum gravity and holography, to practical applications in particle physics, condensed matter or mathematics. This network, with the best research institutions in Europe and around the world, strengthens collaborations and scientific exchanges, including training activities at doctoral and postdoctoral.  

Imperial Coordinator: Prof. Dan Waldram, Blackett Laboratory, Department of Physics

CNRS Coordinator: Boris Pioline, Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Hautes Energies (LPTHE), CNRS UMR 7589, Paris 

The International Research Project (IRP) in Integrative Metabolism (METABOL-IC) is led at Imperial College by Professor Mark Thursz, and at the University of Lille’s European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID) CNRS UMR 8199 by Professor Marc-Emmanuel Dumas. The project is located within the CNRS’ National Institute of Biological Sciences.

This project fosters interdisciplinary research to deepen our fundamental and quantitative understanding of metabolism and how to harness this knowledge to improve therapeutic avenues. To tackle these challenges in human metabolism, there is a crucial need for effective integration of multimodal and multiscale omics technologies with artificial intelligence and functional mechanistic exploration in cellular and animal systems.

As no single institution excels in all these domains, this ambitious project is a unique opportunity to cement a long-lasting partnership between EGID and its flagship National Centre for Diabetes Precision Medicine (PreciDiab) in Lille and Imperial respectively. The Partnership will lay the foundations of a CNRS International Research Lab in Integrative Metabolism as a European leader in the field. Imperial has been central to the development of metabolomics at the faculty of Medicine since its inception 25 years ago (which led to introducing a Phenomics BRC theme, now replaced by the new Metabolic Phenotyping Theme) and microbiome (BRC Gut Health Theme, Microbiome Network and the recently launched Leverhulme Centre for the Holobiont) for the last 20 years, with a strong focus on metabolic diseases.

Imperial Coordinator: Prof. Mark Thursz, Director of AHSC, Professor of Hepatology

CNRS Coordinator: Prof. Marc-Emmanuel Dumas, Génomique fonctionnelle (epi) métabolique et mécanismes moléculaires impliqués dans le diabète de type 2 et les maladies associées, CNRS UMR 8199, Lille (also working at Imperial)

Imperial and CNRS recognise that collaborative activities enable cross-border pooling of research capabilities and sharing of expertise and facilities, the opportunity to appreciate different perspectives, outputs that are typically more highly cited, as well as access to new environments for impact and exploitation of research outcomes. 

The joint research seed fund aims to kick-start frontier research ideas under the new International Research Centre for Transformational Science and Technology.

The Imperial Global Fellows Fund supports high impact international placements for PhD students in CNRS labs. Students, with support of their PhD supervisor and host supervisor, have the opportunity to spend between 1 and 3 months in CNRS labs.

The goals of the programme are to: Develop new skills, experimental techniques and/or methodologies through access to commentary training and laboratories not available at Imperial; Take part in activities to enhance their professional competencies and expertise through international and interdisciplinary teamwork; Add value to the PhD experience by providing students the opportunity to develop as internationally mobile and globally minded scientists.

The aim of the joint fellowships programme is to support extended visits of Professeurs, Maîtres de Conférences, Chargés et Directeurs de Recherche from CNRS-sponsored laboratories to the Department and provide more opportunities for exchange visits between researchers from French universities and the Department. This program is jointly funded by CNRS and by the Department of Mathematics.

Find out more information here.

The GOLDMINE project—short for International Research Network in AdvancinG TechnOlogy, AppLications anD FundaMentals In Coherent NanosourcEs—is a collaborative European scientific network. The network harnesses a cross-disciplinary approach, merging the expertise of physicists, chemists, and biologists to push the boundaries of nanoscale research. By exploring advanced coherent nanosources, the project aims to unlock innovative applications in technology such as sustainable computing and deepen our understanding of fundamental principles at the nano level.

Imperial coordinator: Prof. Riccardo Sapienza, Professor of Physics, Imperial

The Ayrton Blériot Engineering Lab (ABEL), is a groundbreaking International Research Lab in Engineering that represents a new paradigm in Franco-British scientific collaboration.

The International Research Laboratory is designed to harness artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across all engineering disciplines, with a primary focus on tackling grand challenges in sustainability and resilience. ABEL's interdisciplinary approach extends beyond traditional engineering boundaries to encompass chemistry, physics, and mathematics, creating a comprehensive research ecosystem capable of addressing complex, multi-faceted problems.

ABEL's research portfolio centres on eight strategic areas that represent the convergence of AI, emerging technologies, and engineering innovation:

• Synthesis and Engineering of Materials – Developing next-generation materials through AI-driven design and synthesis
• Metamaterials – Creating engineered materials with properties not found in nature
• Sustainable Materials – Advancing circular economy principles through innovative material science
• Fluid Mechanics and Process Engineering – Optimizing industrial processes for sustainability and efficiency
• Optoelectronics and Photonics – Pioneering light-based technologies for communication and sensing
• Engineering for Quantum Technologies – Translating quantum science into practical applications
• AI for Engineering – Integrating artificial intelligence across all engineering disciplines
• Engineering for Sustainable IT – Developing environmentally responsible information technologies

The Lab is named for British physicist and electrical engineer, Hertha Ayrton, and French aviator Louis Blériot. Ayrton made important contributions to the study of electric arcs and the physics of waves in water with obstacles and boundaries and was the first woman elected to the Institution of Electrical Engineers, the first woman to read a research paper at a Royal Society meeting, and the first woman to receive the Society’s Hughes Medal, awarded for original discoveries relating to the generation, storage and use of energy. She invented the Ayrton fan used to repel clouds of poison gas in WWI. Louis Blériot piloted the first-ever successful flight in 1909 across a major body of water -- the English Channel -- in a heavier-than-air craft, connecting the UK and France via air travel for the first time

Director: Prof. Eric Climent, Professor of Fluid Mechanics - Toulouse INP-ENSEEIHT and CNRS delegate

Co-Director: Prof. Fang Xie, Professor of Functional Materials, Imperial

LhARA, the Laser-hybrid Accelerator for Radiobiological Applications, has been conceived as a highly flexible source of proton and ion beams for the elucidation of the micro-biophysical processes that determine the response of tissue to particle beams. The technologies that will be demonstrated in LhARA have the potential to drive a step-change in clinical practice allowing particle-beam therapy to be delivered in completely new regimens, combining a variety of ion species in a single treatment fraction and exploiting ultra-high dose rates. By creating a system that incorporates dose-deposition imaging in a fast feedback-and-control system, LhARA has the potential to remove the requirement for a large gantry, laying the foundations for “best in class” treatments to be made available to the many.

Imperial coordinator: Prof. Ken Long, Professor of Experimental Particle Physics, Imperial

CNRS coordinator: Prof. Yolanda Prezado, Oportunius Research Professor CIMUS