The French National Research Agency Project-based funding to advance French research

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International cooperation > Instruments of cooperation

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Instruments of cooperation

Competitive transnational projects may be funded through two types of collaboration:

  • the opening of national thematic or non-thematic programmes to international collaboration;
  • the defining of joint calls for proposals specifically dedicated to bi-, tri-, or multilateral collaborations. The participation in calls in the framework of European programmes such as ERA-Nets and article 185 initiatives is a specific form of multilateral collaboration.

In the framework of the opening of its national programmes, the ANR organises the co-funding of bi-national projects based on international agreements signed with partner agencies. These agreements demonstrate a common will to jointly support research projects on one or more scientific themes considered as strategic by both parties.

In dedicated joint transnational calls, a common call text is drawn up and a joint evaluation committee comprising international experts is created. The joint evaluation committee produces a ranking list of projects recommended for funding. Based on this ranking list, the involved funding organisations determine the projects to be funded, taking into account the national budgets available. 

In 2010, 62% of the transnational projects were funded in the framework of dedicated joint calls.

Transnational funded projects per instrument (2010)

 

Moreover, all ANR national programmes, either thematic or non-thematic, are open to transnational research proposals, without the prior signature of an agreement between the ANR and a partner funding agency.

However, the foreign partner must ensure his/her own financing and the project coordinator must clearly explain in the proposal:

  • Whether the activities are carried out with already existing funds;
  • Whether the foreign partner has already received national funding for its contribution to the proposed project;
  • Whether the foreign partner requested a national funding for his/her participation in the project by sending out the same scientific proposal to a funding organisation of his/her country.