Orientations for 2013

2011-2013 PROGRAMME PLANNING CYCLE

The programme planning orientations for 2013

The ANR 2013 programme planning completes the three-year cycle spanning 2011-2013, in a context of budget restrictions. The programme planning orientations for 2013 were adopted by ANR’s Governing board on November 14, 2012. The programme planning framework has been restructured to integrate the general orientations set by the Minister of Higher Education and Research. The 2013 edition thus hinges around three components:

The non-thematic instruments (Blanc programme, Young Researchers, Post-doctoral Return, Industrial chairs, etc.)
The construction of the European research area and multilateral collaborations (ERA-NETs and multilateral programmes)
The thematic programme planning (28 programmes)

ANR will maintain a balanced budget between the bottom-up “non-thematic programmes” and the top-down “thematic programmes”, as in the previous editions.

Thematic programme planning

The thematic programming strives to act as a catalyst and amplifier for research themes that emerge within different components of society. The thematic programme planning for 2013 is organised around major societal issues that are consistent with Horizon 2020:

Innovative, secure and cohesive societies
Health and increased life expectancy
Biological resources, environmental monitoring and protection
Energy transition and the post-carbon economy
Digital technology
Global security and dual research

Contribution to the construction of the European research area and multilateral actions

The ANR's European and international actions now represent an important part of programme planning given that about 15% of the funded projects are collaborative projects integrating European or international teams. This share has been growing constantly since the ANR was created. The ANR's transnational collaborations are, insofar as possible, integrated in the national programme planning, in both the thematic priorities and the budget.

ANR programme planning takes into account the international dimension of the subjects, and a large number of its thematic programmes have an international component through participation in an ERA-NET or the mutual opening of programmes in relation with one or more foreign agencies. Although the transnational projects are similar to the national projects in quality and budget, the costs are shared, with each country funding its own teams.

The programme planning process

In order to enrich its portfolio of top-down thematic programmes with the most strategic considerations, the ANR implements a continuous programme planning process in which it consults the widest possible range of national and international stakeholders. Programming is thus a highly iterative process that is based on a broad consultation of the national scientific community into the future research needs, in both fundamental and finalised research. The programme plan is developed on the basis of the work of eight Strategy and Planning Boards in the following areas: