Coria - Coordination pour la Recherche et l’Innovation en Amazonie

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Summary Background to the approach

A new impetus for research in French Guiana: the birth of CORIA

Created in July 2023, CORIA (Coordination pour la Recherche et l'Innovation en Amazonie - Coordination for Research and Innovation in Amazonia) is taking over from GIS IRISTA within a new structure that marks a shared desire to relaunch a space dedicated to scientific collaboration, not only between local research bodies but also with their many partners from Guianese society.

The seventeen founding members formally established CORIA, with the first act being the recruitment of a scientific coordinator responsible for coordinating actions that are fully in line with the priorities of the University of Guyana's 2022-2027 Multiannual Contract. The aim of this contract is to raise the profile of research and innovation in French Guyana, particularly internationally.

More specifically, CORIA meets the following objectives:

Challenge 5: Structure research in French Guyana and pool resources.
Challenge 6: Promote added value and innovation.
Challenge 7: Strengthen our international presence.

Backed by the University of French Guiana and designed as a collective lever, CORIA aims to become a key tool for coordinating research players in French Guiana and increasing their impact locally, nationally and internationally.

Site governance and management

The CORIA Board is made up of its founding members, all organisations with links to the world of scientific research and with scientific, technological or industrial expertise in this field: ADEME, AgroParisTech, ARS, BRGM, CHU, CIRAD, CNES, CNRS, GDI, Hydreco, IFREMER, INRAE, INRAP, IPG, IRD, ONF, PAG, PNRG and of course the UG.

CORIA is not closed, and can accept new members on request.

Reminder of objectives

CORIA's ambitions: for more visible, coordinated and ambitious research in French Guyana

Based on a shared vision, enhanced coordination and increased visibility, CORIA is pursuing four major structuring objectives:

Uniting around a strategic vision of research in French Guyana
CORIA's ambition is to build, with all its members, a shared vision of research across the region. This dynamic is embodied, in particular, by the establishment of consultations between players, aimed at strengthening the coherence and complementarity of research initiatives.
Making French Guiana a recognised player in international research
By acting as an intermediary for international players, encouraging scientific partnerships, the pooling of resources and collective involvement in international projects, CORIA aims to strengthen the region's ability to participate in world-class research programmes.
Building a shared strategy for added value and innovation
In support of local players in the field of added value and innovation, CORIA is helping to highlight and pool the expertise and tools of its members in order to make the most of the assets and results of local research, through initiatives that make them more visible, accessible and useful for society and local players.
Strengthening infrastructures and the visibility of research carried out in French Guiana
By identifying, encouraging and promoting the production of local scientific communication, CORIA aims to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and strengthen the resources available to researchers, in the service of open research that is connected to local issues.

Strategy

CORIA, created in 2023, is the successor to GIS IRISTA, with the aim of strengthening the coordination of research in French Guiana. It aims to improve inter-organisational collaboration, increase scientific visibility and meet the objectives of the University of Guyana's 2022-2027 multi-annual site contract.

Between 2024 and 2025, CORIA introduced new governance, internal rules, a new visual identity and thematic working groups. More than 120 meeting minutes have been produced for members, and a collaborative space has been set up.

CORIA has set up working groups (climate change, PPR OM, innovation) and coordinated the Guyana-New Caledonia response to the PPR Outre-mer. It has facilitated the circulation of information between research bodies and has carried out joint actions to improve the conditions under which research is carried out on behalf of its members.

It has also strengthened partnerships with Brazil (CISAM, Amazonia+10, CFBBA), accompanied scientific delegations and taken part in cross-border events. It is becoming an entry point for Guyanese research into international collaborations.

In collaboration with the FUG, AIBSI, GDI and the DIRVED, CORIA has taken part in an innovation cooperation cell and a collaboration plan with the FUG and AIBSI to support valorisation and research-business links.

At the same time, CORIA has developed a digital strategy (website, social networks), launched podcast and chronicle projects, and published scientific content. A complete mapping of research staff and infrastructure has been finalised and will be published soon.

CORIA has achieved significant results, with a stronger structure, cross-disciplinary projects, increased visibility and consolidated international cooperation. The main difficulty lies in the lack of stable structural funding, as is the case with other equivalent structures in the French overseas territories.

Its priorities for 2026 are to secure funding, launch the website and its tools, consolidate the OM PPR and host the U-Stramelo, prepare for the post-CP30 period and continue cross-border cooperation.

Activity report :
Activity-report-coria-24-25 | Rapport-d-activite-coria-24-25 | Relatorio-de-atividades-coria-24-25