Overview of the Project
The SHIELD project is coordinated by Université Côte d’Azur (France) with three prestigious Indian partners: Ashoka University, Indian Institute of Science (IISc, Bangalore), and IIIT-Delhi. It builds upon long-standing collaborations and seeks to structure a Franco-Indian higher education and research ecosystem. The project is geographically anchored in three innovation hubs -Nice Sophia Antipolis, Delhi NCR, and Bangalore- and connects universities, research institutions, hospitals, incubators, and companies.
It focuses on two thematic axes:
The transformation of biosciences through digital technologies and AI.
Therapeutic innovation, from molecular mechanisms to applications in health.
Objectives
The project pursues four main objectives:
Develop innovative training programmes: multiple master’s degrees, micro-credentials, and a transdisciplinary Doctoral Academy.
Increase and balance Franco-Indian student and researcher mobility, both physical and virtual, by creating pathways for internships, PhD co-supervisions, and academic exchanges.
Strengthen the research–training–innovation continuum by connecting academic excellence with industrial ecosystems, clusters, and incubators.
Build visibility and long-term sustainability through a coherent brand, alumni networks, and integration into the Indo-Pacific region
Key Activities
To achieve these goals, SHIELD implements a wide set of academic, research, and innovation-oriented actions:
Joint academic programmes: modular Master’s curricula allowing bilateral degrees (UCA–IISc, UCA–Ashoka, UCA–IIITD).
PhD and Doctoral Academy: fostering cotutelles, joint supervision, and transdisciplinary training.
Mobility programmes: structured exchanges for at least 100 students and 20 academics in the first two years, plus internship pipelines with laboratories and companies.
Summer and Winter Schools: transdisciplinary events combining advanced training with cultural immersion.
Workshops: at least four on-site scientific workshops per year to align research and teaching strategies.
Entrepreneurship and innovation programmes: developed with industrial and socio-economic partners, incubators, and chambers of commerce.
Virtual Campus: hybrid learning and digital tools to complement mobility.
Communication and branding strategy: to raise awareness and attract students, researchers, and companies
Impact
The SHIELD project is expected to generate significant short- and long-term impacts:
Educational impact: creation of a new generation of life scientists trained at the crossroads of biology, data science, and therapeutic innovation.
Mobility and cultural impact: balanced flows of French and Indian students, reinforced intercultural skills, and stronger bilateral academic ties.
Scientific impact: joint research projects in cutting-edge fields such as AI for biology, molecular mechanisms of diseases, and cancer therapy, with links to Horizon Europe and CEFIPRA calls.
Innovation and socio-economic impact: stronger links between universities, hospitals, and industry, fostering start-ups, technology transfer, and employability.
Strategic impact: establishment of a visible Franco-Indian influence across the Indo-Pacific, supporting both countries’ higher education diplomacy and innovation strategies
