Press release

BRGM and CNRS strengthen their scientific cooperation

Antoine Petit, CNRS Chair and CEO, and Catherine Lagneau, BRGM Chair and CEO, have signed a new framework agreement to continue their fruitful collaboration in areas common to both establishments.

2 July 2025

Catherine Lagneau, PDG du BRGM, et Antoine Petit, PDG du CNRS, ont signé le 30 juin 2025 un nouvel accord-cadre entre les deux organismes.

This agreement consolidates a long-standing partnership in scientific research on the subsurface, natural resources and major environmental issues. It is part of a joint effort that has intensified in recent years, thanks in particular to three national research programmes undertaken by the French government, which they jointly manage (PEPR OneWater, Risques (IRiMa) and Sous-sol).

It aims to strengthen synergy in terms of scientific strategy and to simplify partnerships by laying down basic principles for cooperation. In particular, it provides a framework for collaboration between the Institut des sciences de la Terre d'Orléans (ISTO), jointly supervised by BRGM, CNRS and the University of Orléans, and the MACLE-CVL (Microscopies, imAgeries et ressourCes anaLytiquEs in the Centre-Val de Loire region) support and research unit (BRGM/CNRS/Université d'Orléans).

Major subsurface challenges for this partnership

Among the priorities of this partnership are major issues relating to the subsurface, its resources and uses. Common scientific topics include geological processes at different scales, subsurface modelling, sustainable management of water and mineral resources, assessment of natural and environmental hazards and solutions for the energy transition and decarbonisation.

A permanent coordination committee will monitor the implementation of actions, alongside operational committees, on key themes such as digital data or site strategies, particularly in Orléans.

In their words

The ecological and energy transition will not succeed without the subsurface. Our collaboration and complementarities – applied research, focused on expert appraisal for public policy, combined with the multidisciplinary excellence of CNRS's fundamental research – are major assets if France is to play a leading scientific role in achieving this transition.

Catherine Lagneau, BRGM Chair and CEO

This new framework agreement reinforces the long and fruitful collaboration with BRGM. Today we are joining forces to take strategic action in Earth and environmental sciences, focusing on the natural resources of the ground and subsurface. The co-piloting of research infrastructures such as Epos-France and Data Terra demonstrates our joint commitment to developing scientific tools that are essential for enhancing the influence of the French scientific community.

Antoine Petit, CNRS Chair and CEO