Rice in the World

The Rice Global Paris Center serves as Rice University’s hub in Europe, facilitating exchange and collaboration with our international partners, furthering high priority research collaborations, and providing a unique and inspiring space for Rice student immersion in France and beyond.

The Europe Program at the Center for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute examines how energy markets, policy choices, and geopolitical dynamics shape economic resilience, political stability, and security across Europe. The program seeks to clarify unfolding developments, assess potential shocks, and provide practical guidance for U.S. and European policymakers.

Rice University is part of a large program in nuclear and particle physics at CERN, the European organization for nuclear research located on the border of France and Switzerland. In addition to leading a pillar of fundamental research on origins and patterns of the natural world, this program serves as a mechanism to give more international experiences to Rice students. Rice students live at CERN for months at a time while they do research in an international collaboration of upwards of 5,000 people.

Founded in 2002 and located near la Bastille, Rice Architecture Paris provides advanced B.Arch. and M.Arch. students with a semester-long complement to the Rice School of Architecture in Houston's curriculum. Drawing on faculty from leading European schools and offices, Rice Architecture Paris nimbly takes advantage of the extraordinary offerings of this city, as well as its position as a global cultural nexus.

Announced at the 2025 ASCENDxTexas event, the Texas-France Space Hub links Texas and France in an ambitious effort to fuel startup growth, drive research, and forge international partnerships. This trans-Atlantic space initiative aims to unite academic institutions and private enterprises, expanding commercial space presence in both countries.

The three-year initiative fosters global partnerships in aerospace, bringing together Rice University, Stellar Access and Houston Spaceport in Texas with France’s space agency CNES and Business France. Its six-month accelerator program based in Paris and Houston helps emerging French companies connect with industry leaders and essential resources, paving the way for their expansion into Texas and the U.S. while driving economic growth and innovation.

Beginning in Spring 2025, Rice's Master of Global Affairs (MGA) offers an applied Global Negotiation Masterclass for second-year MGA students in their final semester to acquire global perspectives on matters inherent to the program's Areas of Study: international security, international political development, and international political economy. The MGA offers these opportunities at no additional cost to students.

Rice University's partnership with VIU allows Rice undergrads to attend and Rice faculty to teach in VIU's Globalization Program. Rice graduate students can also participate in short-term, interdisciplinary programs. With VIU’s focus on shared challenges such as sustainability, innovation and cultural exchange, Rice strengthens its role as a university that not only generates knowledge locally but also contributes to solving problems on a global scale.

In May 2024, Rice University and Université PSL signed an MOU and collaboration agreement, marking the beginning of a research partnership and commitment to furthering scientific discovery in these four key areas: Urban futures, Quantum technologies, Global health, and Energy transition. The collaboration also led to the creation of the Rice-PSL International Scholars and Articulated Degrees Program, launched in 2026.

Following the launch of the Rice Brain Institute, Rice's partnership with the Paris Brain Institute (PBI) marked the start of a new era in brain research, one that connects Houston’s growing ecosystem in neuroengineering and health innovation with Europe’s leading center for neuroscience. Together, Rice and PBI aim to deepen understanding of the vital organ and advance solutions for neurological and psychiatric disorders through collaborative research, education and innovation.

Based in Bengaluru, Rice Global India is the university’s incubator for developing research and innovation partnerships as well as advanced educational exchange with diverse industries and academic communities throughout India. India’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing education and technology markets makes it a crucial partner for Rice University’s global vision.

The China Studies Program seeks to expand the study of the influence of the transnational circulation of people, technologies, commodities and ideas on contemporary culture in Chinese societies by sponsoring original commentary and analysis, developing curriculum materials and fostering networks of scholars. The mission of the program is to develop innovative approaches to the study of contemporary China through the use of advanced technologies and via new forms of both personal and institutional collaboration.

The Asia Program at the Center for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute examines how energy markets, geopolitics, and economic development across Asia influence global energy dynamics and strategic competition. Through independent, data-driven research, the program provides clear analysis of near-term developments and long-term structural trends affecting energy security, market stability, and geopolitical risk.

The Program on Energy and Geopolitics in Eurasia (“Eurasia Program”) at the Center for Energy Studies (CES) is focused on the linkages of energy with regional economic prosperity, national power projection, food and water access, and national security. The focus of the CES Eurasia Program will be to explain current events across the region, anticipate future shocks and develop actionable guidance for policymakers.

The Chao Center for Asian Studies is the premier research hub for faculty, students and postdoctoral scholars working in Asian studies at Rice. The mission of the Chao Center includes outreach to Asian and Asian American populations in Houston and beyond, promoting scholarly community building and broader understanding. The center focuses on transnational, trans-historic, diasporic, and global movements of peoples and cultures of greater Asia.

The TOMODACHI-Dow Women's STEM Leadership & Research Program offers a five-week internship experience tailored to a diverse cohort of 10 female students majoring in STEM in Japan. The primary goal of this program is to further diminish the gender gap in the STEM fields in Japan while advancing educational equity.

The MACHI program is held in conjunction with the TOMODACHI-Dow Women's STEM Leadership and Research Program. MACHI is also a five-week internship experience for 10 female students majoring in STEM, but all MACHI participants come from four top universities in Taiwan. These two groups share lodging and experience a similar program schedule.

Rice University and NTU Singapore first collaborated on this program in 2024. Rice undergraduate students are invited to participate in a two-month research program designed to immerse students in a dynamic learning environment across multiple engineering disciplines.

The SynthX International Innovators Fellowship allows undergraduate students from outside the U.S. to visit Rice University for at least one month of research activity. The fellowship is open to all non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in an undergraduate degree program that are engaged in research that aligns with any of the SynthX PIs.

Launched in 2024, the partnership between IISc (Indian Institute of Science) and Rice University focuses on advancing research through collaborative projects and funding opportunities, aiming to foster innovation and academic growth.

The Rice-IITK Collaborative Initiative in Kanpur fosters a thriving research environment for the development of long-term, cutting-edge research in global energy solutions.

Launched in 2025, the Rice-IITM partnership advances research, education, and global mobility through collaborative projects, fellowships, and institutional exchange.

Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT) uses nanotechnology to develop water treatment systems that can protect human lives and support sustainable economic development. The NEWT Alliance spans across four universities—Rice, Arizona State University (ASU), Yale, and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)—allowing NEWT to operate within 30 faculty labs, 13 of which are based at the Rice WaTER Institute. Via the NEWT Alliance, Rice has a persistent collaboration in China (Hangzhou and Tianjin) and Hong Kong.

The Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies offers innovative programs that support Rice students in the design and implementation of new technologies to solve real global health challenges. Rice360 has physical spaces in Malawi and Kenya with additional Rice staff stationed in Tanzania and Nigeria.

The Baker Institute for Public Policy is a nonpartisan, data-driven think tank based at Rice University. Their dedicated Center for the Middle East works on developing pragmatic policy approaches to the region’s enduring political, economic and societal concerns.

The Energy and Geopolitics in the Middle East Program analyzes how the region’s vast energy resources, political dynamics, and economic transitions shape global markets and strategic stability. Through independent research and data-driven analysis, the program seeks to clarify unfolding developments, assess long-term risks, and provide actionable insights for policymakers and industry leaders.

The Global Field Experience (GFE) is a core course required for all MBA students, providing a high-impact consulting opportunity and equipping students with skills to excel as a global business leader. The GFE program has a strong footprint all around Latin and South America, as Rice Business is committed to fostering long-lasting partnerships in emerging markets, particularly in Central and South America. Students have completed consulting projects in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Lima, Panama City, Mexico City, Medellin, and Bogotá.

The agreement between Rice and Instituto Mora allows qualified Rice Ph.D. candidates to study for a year at Mora and to write a co-supervised dissertation and qualified Mora Ph.D. candidates to study for a year at Rice and to write a co-supervised dissertation. The program seeks to train bilingual scholars of the highest caliber while offering opportunities for participation in seminars, conferences and professional development. Rice students participating in the Dual Degree program have the unique opportunity to earn a second Ph.D. in history from the Instituto Mora in Mexico City.

The agreement between Rice and UNICAMP allows qualified Rice Ph.D. candidates to study for a year at UNICAMP and to write a co-supervised dissertation and qualified UNICAMP Ph.D. candidates to study for a year at Rice and to write a co-supervised dissertation. The program seeks to train bilingual scholars of the highest caliber while offering opportunities for participation in seminars, conferences and professional development. Rice students participating in the Dual Degree program have the unique opportunity to earn a second Ph.D. in history from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil.

The Claudio X. González Center for the United States and Mexico seeks to have a meaningful impact on the U.S.-Mexico relationship through original research, relevant solutions to binational policy issues, and the advancement of mutual understanding by convening leaders who can bridge the world of ideas and the world of action.

The Center for Energy Studies' Latin American Energy Program aims to understand the role of Latin America in the future balance of global energy markets. Through independent research and data-driven analysis, the program seeks to clarify unfolding developments, assess long-term risks, and provide actionable insights for policymakers and industry leaders. Its work focuses on key issues such as energy security, market volatility, investment trends, and the region’s evolving role in a changing global energy system.

Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT) uses nanotechnology to develop water treatment systems that can protect human lives and support sustainable economic development. The NEWT Alliance spans across four universities—Rice, Arizona State University (ASU), Yale, and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)—allowing NEWT to operate within 30 faculty labs, 13 of which are based at the Rice WaTER Institute. Via the NEWT Alliance, Rice has a persistent collaboration in Florianopolis, Brazil and Leon, Mexico.

Rice University President Reggie DesRoches signed his 1st MOU with Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA), one of the premier Universities in Latin America. The agreement provides ITBA business students—including both bachelor's degrees and Industrial Engineering—with an excellent option to make the most of their final year of undergraduate studies by pursuing a master's degree at Rice Business School, aligned with their individual professional and career interests. ITBA website: https://www.itba.edu.ar/doble-titulacion-con-rice-university/