"The Visiting Scholars from France program reflects UCalgary’s strong commitment to building purposeful global research partnerships that accelerate discovery and innovation," says Dr. William Ghali, Vice-President (Research). "By welcoming leading scholars from France to our campus, we are creating new opportunities for our researchers, trainees and international collaborators to work together on some of the most complex challenges facing our world. These exchanges strengthen the foundation for long-term, high-impact research that benefits our communities both locally and globally."
Priority areas for research collaboration
Through the program, visiting scholars will work alongside UCalgary colleagues to advance research in areas such as emerging technologies, health, oceanic and polar sciences, and energy. Their work may span artificial intelligence, quantum sciences, mathematics, public and global health, genomics, molecular biology, oceanography, biodiversity, marine ecology, data science, renewable energy, net-zero transitions and sustainability.During their residencies, which can range from two to six months, scholars will collaborate closely with a UCalgary host principal investigator and actively engage with the campus research community. Activities will include collaborative research projects, public lectures, workshops, graduate training and opportunities to connect with both Canadian and French innovation partners.
Supporting joint discovery and academic collaboration
"Science diplomacy plays a central role in strengthening France-Canada research and innovation ties, helping build a stable, long-term structure for collaboration between our universities, research institutions, and governments," says Géraldine Dantelle, Science and Higher Education Attaché at the Consulate General of France in Vancouver."France and Canada share highly complementary research ecosystems, and initiatives like the Visiting Scholars Program are essential for deepening partnerships and supporting ambitious joint projects. By bringing researchers together for sustained collaboration, this program reinforces institutional links and provides a strong foundation for developing competitive proposals."
The Visiting Scholars from France program is expected to catalyze new co-authored publications, stimulate joint funding proposals to major programs such as Horizon Europe , the Canadian Tri-Council agencies , and Mitacs , and expand international opportunities for UCalgary students and emerging researchers. By fostering mobility and sustained collaboration, the initiative aims to build a durable network of French and Canadian researchers working together on shared global challenges.
"The development of high-level scientific collaborations in Canada is one of the key objectives of the international scientific policy of the CNRS," says Andréa Dessen, Director, CNRS Canada. "The launching of the joint Visiting Scholars initiative with the University of Calgary and the French Embassy will open new doors for collaborations between a top Canadian university and French scientists from different backgrounds, leading not only to new discoveries but also promoting innovation. This program aims at bringing people together to tackle challenging scientific questions; I cannot imagine a more exciting prospect."
Nominate a scholar
Nominations are now being accepted for the Visiting Scholars from France program, which provides $25,000 in support for each scholar. The application deadline is February 28, 2026, with results to be announced in April 2026. The first visiting scholars are expected to arrive at UCalgary beginning in summer 2026.More information about the program and application process is available on the Visiting Scholars from France web page.
