The annual U7+ Alliance presidential summit in Paris, bringing together a global network of university heads, offered a practical illustration of this. On the agenda: discussions on climate change, artificial intelligence and dual-use research.
In advance of the summit, the U7+ steering committee, of which uOttawa president and vice-chancellor Marie-Eve Sylvestre is a member, was hosted by the president of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron. This meeting at the Élysée Palace reaffirmed the essential place of universities in discussions of public policy. Steering committee members were also able to present their reflections on issues of technology, democracy, climate and geopolitics. These exchanged were enriched by the participation of Philippe Baptiste (French minister of higher education) and Nobel laureate Jean Tirole, who offered a reminder of the central role of universities in educating and stabilizing societies.
In addition to participating in the U7+ Summit, the uOttawa delegation had an agenda that served as a concrete illustration of its commitment to international collaboration: orientation of the Campus Canada-France, creation of an observatory and chair on research security, meeting alumni in in Paris and holding discussions with Canada’s ambassador to France.
The delegation acted with one clear priority: contributing to a better framework for scholarly collaboration.
Universities, at the crossroads of scholarship and public policy, speaking to world leaders
Discussions among U7+ leaders confirmed one reality: research is being conducted in environments whose scholarly, economic and political aspects are closely linked, with rapid geopolitical transformation. This is happening within a Canadian context characterized by changing research priorities and rising expectations of universities in terms of security, sovereignty and development of industrial capacity.
Sylvestre took part in a panel on dual-use research. In areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and quantum technology — where the University of Ottawa stands out — scientific advances offer key perspectives, while raising questions about their use.
Sylvestre shed light on the tensions inherent in dual use, between openness in scholarship and security requirements, and between basic research and strategic aims.
Her participation allowed the issue of dual-use research to be grounded in a concrete reality: integration of security considerations in the full research lifecycle and the need to collaborate with trusted partners, based on shared principles and responsible practices whose foundations remain academic freedom, research integrity, and protection of open science and basic research.
These exchanges were reflected in the Alliance U7+ communiqué, which formulates recommendations for the G7 and other governments. The communiqué calls on political leaders to partner with universities, and identifies three vehicles for this: supporting universities’ mission while respecting academic freedom, organizing national consultations on the challenges of artificial intelligence and strengthening international co-operation by making universities a part of major policy discussions.
“Faced with the reality of dual-use research, universities are responsible for setting out clear conditions for collaboration and ensuring oversight,” says Sylvestre.
“Faced with the reality of dual-use research, universities are responsible for setting out clear conditions for collaboration and ensuring oversight.”
Marie-Eve Sylvestre
— University of Ottawa president and vice-chancellor
The University of Ottawa is, by its nature, positioned to respond in any way to this call, given how it’s rooted in a unique ecosystem in the heart of Canada’s capital, where research, policy and international partnerships meet. Thus grounded, uOttawa can play a leading role in defining what is responsible, secure international collaboration.
From thought to action: A framework for research security
These reflections soon led to concrete measures.
The University of Ottawa and Université Côte d’Azur formally established a Franco-Canadian observatory and a joint chair in research security.
The chair will offer a structure for scholarly expertise on issues in research security, developing tools and studying the conditions for sustainable international co-operation.
Meanwhile, the observatory will offer a space for dialogue and analysis to close the gap between French and Canadian approaches and allow for the emergence of shared reference points in research security.
These initiatives are rooted in a responsible approach to internationalization, based on openness, trust and clearly defined conditions for collaboration.
Canada-France Campus: Organizing tomorrow’s collaborations
The University of Ottawa delegation used its time in Paris to present the results of a consultation on the Canada-France Campus involving Canadian and French universities that was conducted in collaboration with France Universités. The Canada-France Campus, announced in fall 2025, will provide a structure for scholarly collaboration between the two countries, to ensure collaboration continuity and sustainability, support interdisciplinary exchanges and strengthen scholarship in the French-speaking world in a changing international environment.
The results of this consultation on Canada-France Campus priorities, needs and conditions for implementation, presented at the general meeting of France Universités, speak to a high level of mobilization: nearly 80 institutions took part in less than four weeks, proof of strong interest on both sides of the Atlantic.
The results also show that the campus is expected to be not just an additional tool but a structure able to create real added value, by strengthening what’s working already, sorting out what remains fragmented and being based on clearly identified conditions for implementation, including in terms of funding, governance and co-ordination. The goal is clear: not just adding to existing mechanisms, but improving how they’re organized to extend their reach.
The University of Ottawa and France Universités will continue working in the coming months to establishthe terms for implementing the Canada-France Campus.
An engaged community, here and abroad
Along with the above meetings, the delegation also took the opportunity to meet our alumni in Paris.
Held at Le Visionnaire, the emblematic headquarters of L’Oréal, and organized by Josée Touchette (BSocSc ’83, LLL ’86), Paris Alumni Council ambassador, the evening brought together alumni for a discussion hosted by Nadia Petrolito (LLL ’96), general council of L’Oréal’s Dermatological Beauty Division.
The meeting allowed 30 or so alumni to meet the president, discuss the latest University news and celebrate the international reach of the uOttawa network.
Universities’ global responsibilities
The initiatives presented during the week in the City of Lights strongly reaffirmed the leading role of universities throughout the research lifecycle, from discovery to innovation to application.
In an environment characterized by complexity and interdependence, it’s become essential to rely on the ability of institutions of higher learning to line up research, policy and international partnerships under both secure and sustainable conditions.
To bring the week to a close, the meeting with Nathalie G. Drouin, Canada’s ambassador to France, offered a practical illustration of this dynamic, while allowing the embassy team to reaffirm publicly its support for uOttawa’s efforts and for stronger ties between Canadian and French researchers.