The Université of Toulouse gathers many Research and Higher Education Institutions.
It was created by bringing toghether the 6 founding organisations authorized to deliver a national PhD diploma.
Scientific Strategy
The scientific strategy of the Université of Toulouse is based on a dual approach consisting in fostering emerging projects and steering strategic research initiatives. It is deployed in three phases :
- identifying the major research strengths of the site
- implementing Strategic Thematic Actions defined in line with the scientific and socio-économic challenges
- structuring the site through Interdisciplinary Institutes to be set-up in 2017
Research Coordination Hubs
The research organizations of the Université of Toulouse are gathered in 6 research coordination hubs that are both thematic and trans-institutional; they will work in synergy with the Interdisciplinary Institutes acting at the crossroads of existing disciplinary clusters.
- Biology, Agronomy, Biotechnology, Health
- Sciences of matter
- Universe, Planets, Space, Environment
- Law, Political Science, Economics, Management
- Humanities, Social Sciences and Society
- Mathematics, Sciences and Technology of Information and Engineering
The complete list of research units of the university is available (in French).
The University of Toulouse Research Guidebook (in French) gives more details about research units, teams and topics.
Doctoral Schools
The Doctoral Schools are all members of the Research and PhD Office of the Université of Toulouse: 15 Doctoral Schools representing a research potential of 5300 Scientists (cf.: INSEE, 2007) , 4300 PhD students, and 900 PhD awarded per year.
Nurturing talent
The internationally-renowned research centres of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées attract young researchers from all over the world. Around 900 PhD are awarded annually and at least one third of the PhD students population come from abroad.
Many research centres at Midi-Pyrénées work in the fields of the sciences and medicine, investigating materials and the mechanisms of life, considering issues of major importance for our societies and developing industrial and technological applications.
The humanities play an important role in the international importance of Midi-Pyrénées, with work in a wide variety of fields, including economics, archaeology, history, linguistics, cognitive psychology and public policy on the environment and urban planning.
Relations with industry
Expanding the regional economy, four globally-important research clusters combine the strengths of academic and industrial research: "Aeronautics, space and embedded systems", "Cancer-Bio-Health", "Agrimip-innovation" and "Water".
Exchanges between the university and industry are facilitated through a wide range of events. Researchers receive legal and technical support to fulfil their contracts, apply for patents and set up innovative new companies.
The research centres work with numerous cutting-edge companies in the Toulouse-Midi-Pyrénées region, including Freescale, Siemens, VDO, Actia, Thales, Alcatel, Astrium, airbus, Latécoère, Pierre Fabre and Sanofi Adventis.