Founded in 1987/1999, the University of New Caledonia (UNC) is a French and European public institution, with a scientific, cultural and professional focus under the supervision of the French Ministry for Higher Education and Research.
The French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (French: Institut national de recherche en informatique et en automatique, INRIA) is a French national research institution focusing on computer science and applied mathematics. INRIA is a Public Scientific and Technical Research Establishment (EPST) under the double supervision of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry. INRIA has 8 research centers (in Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lille, Nancy, Paris-Rocquencourt, Rennes, Saclay, and Sophia Antipolis) and also contributes to academic research teams outside of those centers.
The Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD, Institute of research for development) is a French public science and technology research institute under the joint authority of the French ministries in charge of research and overseas development. The IRD institute has three main missions: research on world development, overseas consultancy and training. It conducts scientific programs contributing to the sustainable development of the countries of the South, with an emphasis on the relationship between man and the environment.
GdR BIM is a grouping of a hundred French research teams around the theme of mollecular bioinformatics. These teams belong to French research institutions (e.g. CNRS or INRIA) and universities. GdR BIM is funded by CNRS like any other GdR. It is renewed every 4 years under the condition of satisfactory evaluation.
The South Province (French «Province Sud») is one of three administrative subdivisions in New Caledonia. It corresponds to the southern and southwestern portion of the New Caledonian mainland. It also includes Isle of Pines.
The North Province (French «Province Nord») is one of three administrative subdivisions in New Caledonia. It corresponds to the nothern and northeastern portion of the New Caledonian mainland. It also includes Belep Islands.