CNRS's CEO announces first International Research Center in South Africa

Antoine Petit, chairman and CEO of France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CRNS) announced on 29/10/2025 the opening of its first International Research Centre (IRC) in Africa at the University of the Witwatersand in Johannesburg, South Africa.It will be CNRS’ seventh IRC since 2021.

Speaking at an event organised by CNRS dedicated to IRCs, Petit said: "Our collaborations already demonstrate that science can transcend borders. Now by connecting our IRCs into a single coherent network, we can turn that belief into a lasting reality. One that benefits not only our institution, but society as a whole."

"In the particular and unpredictable geopolitical moment, we believe in international and interdisciplinary strategic partnership to guide our action", he added.

This network proposal was then discussed by a panel of representatives of the IRCs’ partner universities. Whereas the IRCs now focus on PhD joint programmes, "we would be more than happy to try to extend this for postdocs", Petit said.

He said he supported an IRCs alumni network, to "help each researchers to build their…