The University of Oxford is considered as one of the best universities in the world. The collaboration was first built upon research programs in the fields of architecture, urban planning and health, instigated by the Laboratory of Excellence (LabEx) Architecture, Environment & Constructive Cultures (AE&CC) of Grenoble School of Architecture (ENSAG) - UGA.

Today, the partnership between the University of Oxford and the Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) has been expanded to many other topics, including human sciences (with a focus on digital humanities), artificial intelligence and quantum physics.

In 2019, the Oxford-Grenoble Alpes symposium celebrated the 30th anniversary of the twinning of Grenoble and Oxford. The symposium brought together many players from projects in the fields of chemistry, materials science (including magnetism, ferroelectricity and plasticity), soft condensed matter, and biophysics.

This twinning further solidifies the partnership within the region and fosters it through activities collaboratively developed by the university and the city. This is particularly facilitated by the Alliance Grenoble-Oxford, which organizes annually a program of events focused around various aspects of British culture and traditions.

In the academic field

• Education and research exchanges with the city of Oxford and professors from the University of Oxford within the framework of a master's program in Architecture & Constructive Cultures
• Collaboration with the LabEx AE&CC, particularly on urban planning and health.

In the research field

• Innovative projects with ENSAG - UGA, including a project on building and construction, energy and health, funded by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
• Partnership with the Maison de la Création et de l'Innovation (MaCI) as part of the GATES (Grenoble ATtractiveness and ExcellenceS) project: hosting researchers for interdisciplinary projects.
• Implementation of outgoing mobilities for doctoral students in humanities and social sciences, in cooperation with the Maison Française d’Oxford (MFO) and as part of the GATES project.
• Launching collaborations in archeoseismology through the International Research Booster (IRB) project "Archeoseismology: Back to the Future" involving the LabEx AE&CC, the Institute of Earth Sciences (ISTerre), the Laboratory Sols, Solides, Structures, Risques (3SR), CD Tools Risk, ENSAG - UGA, as well as the archaeology department at Oxford.

Current areas of cooperation

• Urban planning
• Digital Humanities
• Mathematics
• Literature
• Humanities
• Artificial Intelligence
• Quantum Physics

Targeted themes within the IRGA 2024 call for projects

• All disciplines