Enhancing Collaboration and Support for the French Scientific Diaspora in the United States

Abstract

The French scientific diaspora in the United States (US) is a diverse community of professionals, essential for France and the host country. Their contribution to science and innovation, in both nations, stem from bilateral collaborations and knowledge exchange. Yet, while living abroad, this group of scientists faces multiple obstacles that can interfere with their productivity and influence. This report highlights the necessity of determining how numerous stakeholders can support and actively engage with this diaspora. To identify the needs of the French scientific community in the US, data was collected during seven interviews with diaspora network managers and analyzed various aspects defining the landscape of the community: the challenges and concerns it faces, the benefits of engaging in a diaspora network, and the opportunities to support these networks. These findings enumerate the difficulties encountered by the diaspora members and the networks themselves, ranging from lack of funding and administrative roadblocks to visibility and long-term sustainability issues. Moreover, the report underscores that involvement with other international diaspora networks considerably expands and diversifies professional connections, facilitating the exchange of experiences and best practices between networks. This analysis emphasizes the needs of the French scientific diaspora and the incentives and actions for supporting it, facilitating the establishment of a set of strategic recommendations for the European Union (EU), France, and the US. Furthermore, it proposes a series of measures to improve communication and collaboration, among French scientific diaspora networks and their international counterparts. Ultimately, by providing an in-depth comprehension of the French scientific diaspora in the US and establishing recommendations to foster these networks, this report paves the way for a more interconnected future, extending beyond the scientific sphere. Additionally, this study can serve as a guide for other scientific diasporas in the US or other regions of the world.