Foundation of sheltering research

The Foundation Sophia Antipolis, a foundation recognised as a public utility modified
it's status on the 7th of February to become "Foundation of sheltering research" (the legal status of sheltering research and science foundations).
There are only three foundations which currently hold this title (la Fondation de France, la Fondation de Recherche Médicale et la Fondation Sophia Antipolis).
This status enables the Foundation Sophia Antipolis to create research foundations around research projects, which may benefit from the Mecenat law. Sheltered foundations are a simple and supple mechanism to encourage public/private partnership for the funding of research.

The Foundation Sophia Antipolis also encourages innovation and helps to facilitate the diffusion of a scientific and technological culture.

Sheltered foundations conducting studies:
- The training of senior executives in technology and Information technology.
- Satellite data and forecasting
- Energy
- The maintenance of excellence networks created by Europe
- Diffusion of scientific culture / Observatory of the Côte d'Azur

FOUNDATION AND MECENAT SHOW /1st JUNE 2006
The Foundation Sophia Antipolis was represented at the Palais de Congrès de Versailles. Several conferences were organised.

DEDICATED FUNDS
The Foundation Sophia Antipolis is able to open funds for a cause or action.

FUNDS IN MEMORY OF ISABELLE ATTALI
The Foundation Sophia Antipolis and INRIA created a fund in memory of Isabelle Attali with an aim to collect donations in order to facilitate exchanges between Sri Lanka and Sophia Antipolis in the domain of Science and Information and Communication Technology. The received donations should serve to host a Sri Lanka student for a long work placement in a local research institution (INRIA) and/or to facilitate exchanges to enable French researchers to go to Sri Lanka.

SISMO DES ECOLES
This project aims to put into place a network of educational institutions ( Secondary schools and/or sixth forms) around a centre of seismic resources of an educational calling. Students aged 13 to 18 are asked to install a seismic sensor in their institution. The received signals feed an online database, a real centre of seismic resources and a starting point for scientific activities utilising new Information and Communication technology.

The signing of an author contract at the “Collège International de Valbonne” on the 15th of May 2006 for the creation of a poster, who’s objective is to warn school children of the risks of tsunamis. The Sismo des écoles, the author, and the cartoonist signed the agreement.
The Foundation Sophia-Antipolis facilitated the exchanges and held an exhibition and conference on the creation of a poster or a comic “ from the idea to the creation” in October 2006 during the Festival of Science.