Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Moncef Boukthir on Wednesday held talks with CEO of the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) Valérie Verdier, on the monitoring of structuring research projects. These projects include joint international laboratories, which will help boost Tunisian-French cooperation in the scientific research field, notably in water resources management, environmental protection, renewables and technology transfer and development. The meeting focused on the prospects for bilateral cooperation through the development of a joint action plan that defines the two countries' shared priorities in the scientific research and innovation fields. The goal is to set up joint research teams and create new mechanisms to scale up Tunisian-French cooperation under international and European programmes such as Horizon Europe, PRIMA and Blue Med, in compliance with the framework agreement signed between the Higher Education and Scientific Research Ministry, the IRD and the Agricultural Research Centre for Development. The meeting was an opportunity to underline the need to boost South-South cooperation by multiplying initiatives aimed at building the capacity of African researchers. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse