The National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) signed a large number of conventions with several international and academic institutions since 2002.

Agreements Signed with French Universities and Institutions:
Ecole Nationale des Pouts et Chaussées (ENPC) In 2008, the CNRS signed an agreement with the ENPC stipulating that the two institutions would co-finance a maximum of four scholarships annually to support Ph D fellows. So far six candidates have benefited from this program.

Université dti Littoral Côte d’Opale (ULCO):
In 2008, the CNRS signed a scientific cooperation agreement with ULCO stipulating that the two institutions would cooperate on a certain number of scientific issues such as exchange of researchers and PhD fellows, participation in conferences and scientific meetings, permanent exchange of information on scientific activities, and exchange of scientific documents. In 2011, the CNRS signed an agreement with ULCO stipulating that the two institutions would co-finance a certain number of scholarships to support PhD fellows. So far two PhD candidates have benefited from this program.

Université de Mon (pellier 2 (UM2):
In 2009, the CNRS signed an agreement with UM2 stipulating that the two institutions would co-finance a certain number of scholarships to support PhD fellows. So far one PhD candidate has benefited from this program. In 2011, the CNRS signed an annex to the agreement with UM2 stipulating that UM2 would host post-doctoral candidates jointly selected by the CNRS and UM2. This agreement will become effective in 2012.

Université Claude Bernard Lyon I (UCBL):
The CNRS signed two agreements with UCBL: In 2011, the CNRS signed an agreement with UCBL, to help in defining joint research projects and implementation modalities as well as co-financing and hosting Ph. D. candidates. The agreement also foresees supporting acquisition, transfer and lending of equipment; and a contribution to scientific expertise, especially in the assessment of papers published by the “Lebanese Scientific Journal” of CNRS.

In 2004, the CNRS signed an agreement with UCBL in order to define projects and their implementation missions involving lecturers, researchers and engineers of the UCBL in Lebanon and the reception in France of faculty, researchers and CNRS engineers and Universities in partnership with the Lebanese CNRS in addition to doctoral fellows co-financed by the CNRS. So far 10 PhD fellows have benefited from this agreement.

Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie:
In 2008, the CNRS signed an agreement with the AUF stipulating that the two institutions would co-finance scholarships to support a certain number of PhD fellows annually depending on identified needs and availability of financial resources. So far, 7 PhD candidates benefited from this program. The « Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier (CIHEAM-IAMM) In 2012, the CNRS signed an agreement with CIHEAM-IAMM stipulating that the two institutions would co-finance two scholarships to support PhD candidates as well as post doctoral candidates. This agreement should come into effect during the academic year 201 2-2013.

L’institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Nier (IFREMER) :
The CNRS signed 2 agreements with IFREMER:
In 2003, the CNRS signed a protocol with IFREMER pertaining to the SHALIMAR campaign that took place between September 27 and October 26, 2003. This campaign was undertaken by the French ship LE SUROIT. It aimed at drawing the bathymetric map of the Lebanese shore.

In 2007, the CNRS signed a framework agreement with IFREMER aiming at enhancing cooperation in the fields of living resources and marine biodiversity, marine and coastal shore environment (marine pollution, surveillance, sustainable planning and development).

Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD):
In 2009, the CNRS signed a framework contract defining research cooperation modalities between the CNRS and IRD. In 2010, the CNRS signed three agreements with IRD:

The first agreement aims to define the modalities of participation of IRD, CNRS and the American University of Beirut (AUB) in a research project entitled «The Dynamics of National and International Research in Lebanon and International Comparisons». The project is expected to conduct a survey of researchers in Lebanon, to analyze their publishing behaviour, and analyze the dynamics of international cooperation of researchers in Lebanon. It will contribute to the establishment of a database with the CNRS gathering information from the research project.

The second agreement was signed between the CNRS, IRD and the Saint Joseph University (USJ)». This agreement aims to define the modalities of cooperation between the CNRS, the IRD and the USJ for the realization of a joint research program on the study of climate change and its impact on hydrology in Lebanon.

The third agreement aims to define the modalities of between CNRS and IRD for the joint program entitled LIBRIS (Contribution to the Study of Seismic Hazard in Lebanon).

One of the main objectives of LIBRIS is to give a probabilistic estimation of the ground motion in Beirut. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS-France):
In 2004, the CNRSL signed a framework contract with the CNRS (France) aiming at cooperation in the field of information including exchange of publications and journals, organization of bilateral conferences, seminars, implementation of joint research projects, exchange of research staff including researchers, faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, structuring of collaborations through:
- International Programs for Scientific Cooperation (PICS).
- Mixed International Units (UMI).
- European-International Associated Laboratories (LIA).
- International Research Groups (GDRI).
- or any other form of partnerships.


L’École Supérieure des Géomètres et Topographes (ESGT):
In 2005, the CNRS signed an agreement with ESGT in view of disseminating scientific and technical culture in the fields of geomatics (geospatial technology) and geodesy, and bringing together academics and professionals and developing research in these fields.

L’institut Français du Proche Orient (IFPO):
The CNRS signed two agreements with IFPO. In 2007, the CNRS signed an agreement with IFPO for the co-edition of the “Atlas of Lebanon, territories and societies”.

In 2010, the CNRS signed a framework contract with IFPO defining the modalities of scientific cooperation based on identification of joint research priorities, hosting by IFPO of researchers working on common research projects financed by the CNRS, hosting by the CNRS of PhD fellows financed by the CNRS, training of researchers, exchange of scientific and technical information, organisation of seminars and conferences, research development through publications and production of documentaries,

Agreements Signed with Italian Institutions:
The CNRS signed two agreements with the Italian Government (Italian Cooperation).
Following the 2006 oil spill caused by the Israeli bombardment of the Jiyeh power plant, the necessity of acquiring a scientific boat to carry out marine research was badly felt by the scientific community in general and the CNRS in particular. The Italian Government answered this quest for development of marine research by buying a scientific research vessel, completely refurbishing and equipping it and transferring its ownership to the CNRS on November 7, 2007. The vessel was named “CANA”.

In 2009, the Italian Government, decided to support the scientific vessel CANA by ensuring its sustainability and effective utilization through the launching of a project financed by the Italian cooperation. The protocol of this project amounting to 2.3 million euro was signed by the CNRS with representatives of the Italian Government at the Italian Embassy in Beirut. The project aims at evaluating seismic risk according to a scientific analysis; Hydrogeological and Hydrobiological evaluation of Lebanese marine water; Marine resource protection; Coastal pollution evaluation; Dissemination of scientific results among the Lebanese civil society.

In July 2011, the CNRS signed an agreement with the National Research Council of Italy. The agreement foresees implementing joint research projects and organising joint workshops. Joint research teams shall be granted 5.000 euro by each party. This amount is intended to complement the proper resources of each team, and subsidize the general costs linked to the international nature of the projects as well as the costs of international travel (mainly transportation and per- diem). Each research team may apply for complementary support from other institutions.

Agreements with the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies Mediterranean Agronomie Institute-Ba ri (CIII EAM IAMB):
The CNRS signed two Memoranda of Understanding with CIHEAM-IAMB. The first was signed in 2007 with the Ministry of Agriculture (Lebanon) and CIHEAM IAMB, aiming at sustaining the income of the Lebanese rural communities affected by the war in 2006 and at implementing the activities of the project: “Activation of Mechanisms to Sustain Rural Territories and Communities in Lebanon” (TerCom), financed through the Italian Cooperation. The specific objectives are to provide technical assistance to improve the agricultural production quality; to support the creation of pilot initiatives for territorial development and the promotion of local products; to elaborate a plan for the development of the fishery sector and to initiate some appropriate actions in order to support the marine culture in South Lebanon. The second was signed in 2009, with CIHEAM-IAMB implementing the project “Social and economic support for the families of producers in olive- growing marginal regions of Lebanon” for the development of a satellite map of the national olive area and the production of related thematic mapping concerning olive oil quality.

Agreement with the National Research and Innovation Agency of Uruguay (ANII):
In 2011, the CNRS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ANII aiming at setting out a framework for further development of collaboration ANII and CNRS in the following Areas of Interest: Renewable Energy, Food safety and Quality, Environment and Biodiversity, Nanotechnology.

Agreement with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
In April 2010, the CNRS signed a letter of Agreement with FAO which made a financial contribution in support of producing the land cover/land use map of Lebanon for the account of the Ministry of Agriculture. 

Agreement with United Nations Environment Programme Coordinating Unit of the Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP):
In 2007, the CNRS signed a MoU with UNEP/MAP for the launch of sub-regional surveys for the assessment of contamination level of Mediterranean coastal waters.

Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Black Sea 1editerranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS):
In 2009, the CNRS signed a MoU with the ACCOBAMS, a cooperative tool for the conservation of marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Its purpose is to reduce threats to cetaceans in Mediterranean and Black Sea waters and improve our knowledge of these animals. 

The project aims to know the existence of cetaceans’ habitats in addition to their areas of distribution in the Lebanese water and the implementation of suitable measurements of conservation; such knowledge can be obtained only through the “ad hoc” study. In addition the data which will be gathered will constitute an inevitable support for the creation of an observation network for the strandings.

Agreement with International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD):
In 2012, the CNRS signed an agreement with the IBRD acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEE) to implement the Lebanese component of a regional project entitled: “Regional Coordination on Improved water Resources Management and Capacity Building Program”. The Center for Remote Sensing of the National Council for Scientific Research will be in charge of the implementation of the Lebanese component of this project which amounts to USD 1.05 million.

The project objective is to improve water resources and agricultural management and planning within and across beneficiary countries, based on quantitative and spatial-based decision making tools. The main beneficiary countries of this Project are the Arab Republic of Egypt, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Kingdom of Morocco, Lebanese Republic, and the Republic of Tunisia.

Agreements with the European Commission:
CNRS signed a number of conventions with the European Commission to implement projects in ebanon. Most projects are implemented by the four research centres of the CNRS and described under theirs chapters. However, three projects were implemented under the supervision of the general secretariat: In 2004, the CNRS signed a convention to implement the Lebanese chapter of a project entitled “Evaluation of Scientific and Technological capabilities in Mediterranean countries (ESTIME)”. The ESTIME project aimed at describing the scientific and technological capabilities in 8 research partner countries of the Mediterranean (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestinian closer links between the European research space and the Mediterranean one, by providing precise indications on research, technological development, and innovation in the Mediterranean countries, supported by empirical investigations and a thorough revision of sources of information. In 2008, the CNRS signed a grant agreement to implement the Lebanese chapter of the MED-IST project.

The project aimed at:

- Establishing a research agenda for the MPC together with the national bodies of the MPC that reflects their priorities and defines the strategic approach to a closer co-operation with the European Framework Programme.
- Promoting the thematic priority of 1ST in the new FP7 on a wide basis to the research community and IT industry in the MPC.
- Identifying promising research organisations and relevant private industry in the MPC that are suitable for participation in future 1ST research activities, and defining criteria for their selection. Tutoring/mentoring plans will be developed for each type of organisation based on their research profiles, describing their training needs and goals.
- Providing mentoring / tutoring on 1ST programme opportunities and procedures to the identified organisations as well as familiarize them with the European R&D culture (i.e. both formal and informal aspects).
- Facilitating the development of networks between research Territories). The project contributed at and international experts that were divided organisations and companies in the MPC and the EU in order to exchange ideas and pursue joint research collaboration.

In 2009, the CNRS signed a grant agreement to implement the Lebanese chapter of the project entitled “Establishing the EU-Mediterranean ICT Research Network (JOIN-MED)”.