A delegation from France consisting of Counsellor for Science and Technology of the French Embassy in Russia Alexis Michel, Attaché for Science Michel Balazard, Coordinator of scientific cooperation Corinne Lassailly, Coordinator on innovative issues Quentin Debetz and Assistant Counsellor for Science and Technology Oksana Itkis visited the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research on 30 October 2014.

Cooperation of scientists from Dubna and France began long ago – two French scientists worked in Dubna in 1957, and the Nobel laureate Frederic Joliot-Curie visited JINR in 1958. The 40th anniversary of cooperation between the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and the National Institute for Nuclear Physics and Particle Physics IN2P3 was celebrated last year. Over the years of working together French and Dubna physicists have achieved important scientific results, successful projects have appeared. Annually JINR and research centers in France exchange visits for joint work. France makes financial contribution to one of FLNR projects. JINR scientists have long and successful cooperation in such scientific collaborations as the experimental complex NEMO-3 in the Modane underground laboratory, international centers in Grenoble – the Institute Laue Langevin and the European Center of Synchrotron Research and others. Cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission (Commissariat à l’énergie atomique, CEA) and its affiliate institutions is being actively developed. This suggests great mutual interest and high potential of scientific cooperation.

The guests visited JINR laboratories, the construction site of the accelerator complex NICA, detector laboratories of VBLHEP. In addition, they were acquainted with the FLNR cyclotron complex and the IBR-2 reactor in LNP. After the excursion, a conversation in the JINR Directorate was held, where JINR Vice-Director M.G. Itkis, JINR Chief Scientific Secretary N.A. Russakovich, Head of the JINR International Cooperation Department D.V. Kamanin and DLNP Director V.A. Bednyakov spoke about current JINR projects, participation of Russia and other countries in these projects. The French delegation included experts on innovative development, so the discussion touched on not only research projects but also education, and achievements of fundamental science with practical application.

The prospects of associate membership of France in JINR were also discussed. At the meeting in the JINR Directorate the sides expressed hope that the two upcoming jubilees – the 60th anniversary of foundation of JINR and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of scientific and technical relations between France and Russia could be important impetus to the promotion of this issue. Nearest events were also discussed, in particular, the regular meeting of the Joint Committee on cooperation with IN2P3 (such meetings are held alternately in Russia and France) which is planned to be held in Moscow with possible participation of representatives of the French Embassy.

Counsellor for Science and Technology of the French Embassy in Russia Alexis Michel said in an interview to the JINR weekly newspaper that this is his first visit to Dubna. The excursions to JINR facilities made a great impression on him, he knew a lot about cooperation with physicists from Dubna before and now he became even more interested in continuation and development of this cooperation.