Choose France for Science: Call for Expressions of Interest

Partially funded chairs are available to researchers outside of France for large scale projects in France focused on national priority areas in health, climate, technology, space, agriculture and energy.

The Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR – National Research Agency) was first established in 2005 and is governed by the French Ministry of Research. It provides funding to public research organisations and universities, as well as to private companies, for both basic and applied research in all fields of science. Its goals include promoting creativity and openness as well as new ideas and partnerships, in particular between academia and industry. It also seeks to improve the competitiveness of French research in Europe and around the world.

As part of the France 2030 investment plan, the French Government has entrusted ANR with the operation of the Choose France for Science platform, which enables universities, schools and research organisations to apply for co-funding to host international researchers. The initiative was established to address an international context that has created the conditions for an unprecedented wave of mobility among researchers worldwide.

Within the framework of Choose France for Science, ANR has launched a programme for Chairs of Excellence aimed at high level researchers and engineers working outside of France, with the objective of providing funding for them to undertake new large scale projects in France. The chair positions will enable the researchers to develop their research programmes and allow them to apply for significant European research calls. 

Universities, schools and research organisations will identify international researchers who are ready to come to Europe. The researchers will be invited to construct a research project alongside a host institution. Research will address priority themes for France (France 2030 strategies and thematic areas of the programme agencies). A particular focus will be placed on the following themes:

• Health research
• Climate, biodiversity and sustainable societies
• Digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI)
• Space studies
• Agriculture, sustainable food, forests and natural resources
• Decarbonised energy
• Digital components, systems and infrastructures

The research chair must, within two years of taking up the position, apply for a competitive high-level European or international call (ERC, EIC Pathfinder etc).