1. Project Description
BIOSANTEXC (BSX) is a Franco-Indian initiative built on the cooperation between the Écoles Normales Supérieures (ENS, France) and the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER, India), together with the National Center for Cell Sciences (NCCS) and associated partners such as NCBS, NIBMG, and TISS.
BIOSANTEXC promotes early-career training and interdisciplinary dialogue, with upholding academic freedom and promoting research-led education. Its purpose is to create a network of excellence in Life Sciences for Health, combining research and advanced training at the Master’s and PhD levels. Through mobility grants, joint scientific events, and shared pedagogical tools, it cultivates excellence. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, covering infectious diseases, cancer, neuroscience, genomics, ecology, bioinformatics, sports sciences, and social sciences.
The long-term vision is to establish a sustainable Franco-Indian campus that trains future specialists with intercultural competence, reinforces bilateral ties, and extends visibility to the Indo-Pacific region.
2. Objectives
Strengthen research cooperation by connecting French and Indian laboratories and building joint projects.
Develop reciprocal student mobility at Master’s and PhD levels (internships, twinning programs, double degrees, co-tutelles).
Encourage interdisciplinarity by integrating life sciences with social sciences and health challenges.
Foster industry links and entrepreneurship, including incubation and innovation ecosystems.
Ensure inclusivity, with attention to gender balance and disadvantaged students.
3. Planned Activities
3.1 Training and Mobility
Internship Twinning Programs: short-term recognition of international mobility within Master’s curricula, later integrated into diplomas.
Double Degrees: first Master double degree expected by September 2024 (ENS Lyon – IISER Pune pilot).
Doctoral Programs: dual PhDs (co-tutelles) and co-supervised theses; common template agreements prepared by 2023.
Master–PhD Tracks: identifying excellent Master students for co-directed PhD opportunities.
3.2 Research Cooperation
Four scientific workshops organized in France and India, mixing global health challenges and sub-disciplinary fields.
Research visits (1–2 weeks) to foster collaborations and prepare joint projects.
Visiting faculty programs for teaching and research mobility, including remote classes and shared pedagogical engineering.
3.3 Governance and Coordination
Coordinated by ENS de Lyon (France) and IISER Pune (India).
A steering committee of coordinators, deans, and international relations directors supervises priorities and mobility selections.
Associated partners participate fully in workshops, joint research, and mobility programs.
3.4 Industry and Entrepreneurship
Collaboration with innovation clusters (e.g., Lyonbiopole in France, IISER incubators in India).
Student visits to incubation centers (Beelys in Lyon, AIC-SEED Pune, IICE Bhopal, i-RISE Mohali).
Promotion of start-up ecosystems and industry-academia partnerships.
4. Expected Impacts
Creation of a structured and visible Franco-Indian cooperation ecosystem in Life Sciences and Health.
Significant increase in student and researcher mobility flows.
Training of globally competent specialists, prepared for careers in academia, industry, and policy.
Reinforcement of joint scientific output (publications, projects, co-tutelles).
Contribution to regional and Indo-Pacific influence, strengthening bilateral ties and attracting international students.
