Phèdre II plan CNES steps up action to support French Guiana
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:
1. Increase the space sector’s contribution to the Guianese economy
2. Make the sector’s contribution clearer and more effective (it is currently rather fragmented)
3. 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, increasing CNES’s contribution from €40 million to €50 million for the period 2014–20. The plan focuses on education, higher education and research, and is built around closer partnership with French Guiana’s educational institutions.
Agreement between CNES and the University of French Guiana:
⦁ Development of laboratory infrastructure and facilities
⦁ Development of a digital university
⦁ Creation of a Space Chair, with responsibility for doctoral grants and research contracts
Agreement between CNES and the Guianese education authority’s continuous training and professional integration unit:
⦁ 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
On signing these two agreements, CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall commented: “I’m delighted that CNES at the Guiana Space Centre is implementing so rapidly the action plan decided by the government. It allows us to step up our actions and our involvement with French Guiana’s young people and the country’s education, higher education and research community.”
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CONTACTS
Pascale Bresson Press officer Tel: +33 (0)1 44 76 75 39 pascale.bresson@cnes.fr
Raphaël Sart Press officer Tel: +33 (0)1 44 76 74 51 raphael.sart@cnes.fr
Sébastien Martignac Press officer Tel: +33 (0)1 44 76 78 35 sebastien.martignac@cnes.fr