Scientist in a laboratory

International Research Laboratories

As a university with both research innovation and internationalization at its core, Sorbonne University plays an integral role in multiple international research laboratories.

Discover how our researchers are collaborating in all corners of the world.

International Research Laboratories

2B-FUEL

2B-FUEL is an International Joint Unit (UMI) in materials chemistry and organic electronics.

2B-FUEL was inaugurated on October 5th 2018 by Antoine Petit, Chairman and CEO of CNRS, and Professor Wonyong Lee, Vice President of Research Affairs at Yonsei University.

Initiated by professors André-Jean Attias (Sorbonne University) and Eunkyoung Kim (Yonsei University), the UMI carries out research on functional materials for optics and electronics as well as systems. The project aims to develop the basic building blocks of tomorrow's electronics, which could lead to novel 3D printable organic electronics systems whose properties will be tested by researchers in the UMI.

The interest of such an approach in South Korea is obvious, given the presence of key industrial players in the field.

In France, the UMI has a 'mirror' site: Sorbonne University.

Director: André-Jean Attias

2B-Fuel
EBEA

EBEA

The Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae (EBEA) research activities address the fields of evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation biology with a specific focus on marine “algae” organisms (in a broad sense) including both unicellular (“microalgae”) and multicellular (“seaweed”) species. These scientific activities combine fundamental research objectives in relation to the study of biodiversity tackled with theoretical, empirical, and experimental approaches as well as applied research goals in relation to the exploitation of algal bio resources.

EBEA was created in 2014 by five host institutions: CNRS and Sorbonne University (then UPMC) in France, and PUC and UACh in Chile. In France, the UMI is one of the units of the SBR (Station Biologique de Roscoff). This international laboratory is spread across three distinct sites: Roscoff (France), Santiago and Valdivia (Chile). The scientific collaboration between members of the French and Chilean teams dates back to the 1990s.

Director: Myriam Valero

JFLI

The Japanese-French Laboratory for Informatics is an International Research Laboratory (IRL 3527) made up of three French institutions (the CNRS, Sorbonne University and INRIA) and three Japanese institutions (NII, University of Tokyo and Keio University).

It was first established on January 1st, 2009 as an International Associated Laboratory ("LIA" in CNRS terminology) by five partner institutions: CNRS, Sorbonne University (then UPMC), the National Institute of Informatics (Japan), the University of Tokyo and Keio University. It became a Joint International Unit with the same partners on January 1st, 2012.

Up until 2020, five topics, based on existing scientific cooperation between Japan and France, were selected for their potential for fruitful collaborative research: Next Generation Internet, Grid Computing and High Performance Computing; Software, Programming Models and Formal Methods; Virtual Reality and Multimedia, and Quantum Computing.

From 2021, four new research topics will be developed: Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Networks and Cybersecurity, Foundation of Informatics.

Directors: Philippe Codognet, French co-director of JFLI Professor at Sorbonne University on leave at CNRS; Kae Nemoto, Japanese co-director of JFLI, Professor at National Institute of Informatics (NII).

JFLI - Fujisan
Majulab

Majulab

IRL Majulab is an international research laboratory between France and Singapore in Quantum Technologies, Quantum Computing, Photonics and Materials Science. 
The institutions that make up Majulab are CNRS, Côte d’Azur University, Sorbonne University, the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University of Singapore. The IRL Majulab is currently directed by Dr Christian Miniatura (CNRS). 

Majulab’s main goals for collaboration and research include hosting French researchers working full-time in Singapore for extended periods, bridging Singaporean and French partner labs into collaborative links and networks, and bringing cross-visibility to partners.

At Sorbonne University, the mirror site of Majulab's goal is to promote and facilitate the exchange of researchers and students between SU and the Singaporean partners of Majulab (NTU and NUS). 

Director: Dr Christian Miniatura

UMMISCO

The UMMISCO laboratory works on mathematical and computational models in sustainable sciences. Its research requires the integration of multiple modeling approaches (dynamic systems, multi-agent systems, machine learning, etc.), multiple viewpoints and different scales. The application domains include the understanding of epidemics, smart cities, emergence of chronic diseases, sustainable fisheries, etc. The global dynamics of the systems concerned are the result of complex interactions between their biological, ecological and social components.

UMMISCO's scientific themes are devoted to the design of mathematical and computational modeling approaches and tools to better understand the emerging dynamics of "complex systems", to develop their most likely evolutionary scenarios and to feed decision-making in the field of sustainable development.  

Director: Jean-Daniel Zucker

UMMISCO - Coronavirus research