Institut Pasteur & ERASuD : Joining forces to promote fairer, more collaborative science rooted in the realities of the Global South

Research has always been a powerful driver of change. And it is all the more effective at meeting the major challenges of our times, whether these relate to climate, environment or health, when resources are pooled across borders and disciplines. This belief is at the heart of ERASuD (European Research Alliance for Sustainable Development).

ERASuD was officially launched at the European Parliament on November 22, 2024 and includes 12 European research organizations from 8 countries united in the common goal of raising EU institutions' awareness of the need for fairer and more effective scientific cooperation between Europe and low- and middle-income countries.

An alliance built on shared values

More than just a means of bringing institutions together, ERASuD stands for a vision of sustainable science based on strong values including co-construction, fairness, inclusion, diversity, ethics and interdisciplinarity. It is guided by the core principle that research partnerships with countries from the Global South are only sustainable if they are developed with them and not for them.

The alliance has developed a clear strategy to turn these ideas into action. It communicates directly with the European institutions and publishes strategy documents and position papers to influence key political decisions. These help keep European research funding focused on low and middle-income countries over the long term

The Institut Pasteur, a founding member and advocate for health

The Institut Pasteur is one of the French founding members of ERASuD, along with the French Research Institute for Development (IRD), the alliance's coordinator, and is the only member specializing in health issues. This reflects the Institut Pasteur's long-standing commitment to equitable international research, particularly in global regions that are most vulnerable to infectious disease threats.

The Institut Pasteur fully shares ERASuD's vision that scientific diplomacy is capable of bridging the gap between research and public health policies in the interests of sustainable development.

Building partnerships to rebalance global scientific cooperation

ERASuD works closely with key stakeholders from the Global South including the African Academy of Sciences (AAS). Together, they strive to address long-standing inequalities in scientific cooperation by better prioritizing local needs, promoting equity and inclusion, and ensuring that open science is a tool that is accessible to all.

ERASuD is more than just a new institutional alliance. It represents a strong signal to Europe that collaborative, fair research rooted in the realities of the Global South is not just possible but essential for meeting the challenges of our time. And the Institut Pasteur fully intends to play a central role in this.