École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) formalized a strategic partnership on October 9, 2026. The ceremony, attended by the Australian Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Lynette Wood, brought together university leaders, researchers, and innovation specialists from both countries.
This agreement establishes a framework for collaboration in research, innovation partnerships, doctoral training, and student and staff mobility. It aims to foster joint research projects, cotutelle doctorates, and new opportunities for researchers to work within both institutions.
RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Alec Cameron, highlighted that the partnership aligns with RMIT's long-standing commitment to France and Europe. "In collaboration with ENS Paris-Saclay, we see significant opportunities to pool our strengths in areas such as design and artificial intelligence, particularly at the intersection of these disciplines," he stated.
Nathalie Carrasco, President of ENS Paris-Saclay, noted that the agreement formalizes an existing relationship. "Today, we are doing the opposite of many agreements signed between institutions that barely know each other, hoping a relationship will develop later. We are providing an official framework and defining the conditions for future development of a relationship that already exists, forged over years of collaboration," she explained.
A key driver of this partnership is the appointment of Associate Professor James Auger as Director of Research in Design, Culture and Creative Practices at RMIT Europe. An internationally recognized figure in speculative and critical design, Mr. Auger joins RMIT Europe after serving as Head of the Design Department at ENS Paris-Saclay and Co-Director of the Design Research Centre.
This new role will enable James Auger to maintain active research collaborations with ENS Paris-Saclay while contributing to the development of RMIT's research and industry engagement activities across Europe. It also provides RMIT with a permanent research base at ENS Paris-Saclay, fostering future collaborative initiatives.
James Auger commented that this collaboration creates a framework for researchers and students to work together innovatively. "At the heart of this partnership is design research and the opportunity to explore questions that transcend disciplines; I look forward to discovering the ideas and projects that will emerge from it," he said.
The partnership reinforces both institutions' commitment to advancing international research collaboration and supporting the next generation of researchers through shared expertise, mobility, and innovation.
