Adelaide's Flinders University is teaming up with four French graduate schools of engineering to work on research related to Australia's next fleet of submarines.
An agreement will be signed in Paris on Tuesday witnessed by Higher Education Minister Susan Close and Marie-Pierre Bailliencourt, deputy chief executive for DCNS, the group contracted to build the navy's next fleet of subs.
It will foster joint research projects, student and staff exchanges and a new wave of Australian-French innovation and entrepreneurial projects related to the submarine program, which will be centred in Adelaide.
Flinders University's deputy vice-chancellor Robert Saint says the memorandum of understanding will foster an exchange of research and technical expertise that further strengthens the university's maritime-related programs.
"The agreement will enhance our defence related endeavours and contribute to South Australia and Australia's economic transformation," professor Saint said.
DCNS is expected to begin construction work on the 12 new submarines in the early 2020s.
