CNES signed two agreements — the first agreement is with the University of French Guiana and the second is with the Guianese education authority’s continuous training and professional integration unit (GIP FCIP).
During his visit to French Guiana in October 2017, the French President affirmed his commitment to step up the space sector’s efforts to support the country and asked for practical measures to be implemented. Frédérique Vidal, Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and Annick Girardin, Minister for Overseas France, asked CNES to pursue an action plan with three priorities:
- Increase the space sector’s contribution to the Guianese economy
- Make the sector’s contribution clearer and more effective (it is currently rather fragmented)
- More closely involve local people and their representatives in the sector’s action to support Guiana
To this end, CNES is implementing the Phèdre II plan for economic and social development in French Guiana. This plan has now been given an additional budget of 10 million euros, increasing CNES’s contribution from 40 million to 50 million euros for the period 2014 to 2020. The plan focuses on education, higher education and research, and is built around closer partnership with French Guiana’s educational institutions.
The Agreement between CNES and the University of French Guiana consists of…
- Development of laboratory infrastructure and facilities
- Development of a digital university
- Creation of a Space Chair, with responsibility for doctoral grants and research contracts
The agreement between CNES and the Guianese education authority’s continuous training and professional integration unit includes…
- Scientific and digital projects for primary and secondary schools
- Scholarships for higher education and support for apprenticeships fostering access to training with qualifications for young people
Executive Comment
On signing these two agreements, CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall said he was delighted that CNES at the Guiana Space Centre is implementing so rapidly the action plan decided by the government. These agreements allow CNES to step up the organization's actions and involvement with French Guiana’s young people and the country’s education, higher education and research community.
