Work Programme 2019

Work Programme 2019 is the French National Research Agency’s (ANR) roadmap, outlining its actions and funding instruments for the coming year. The programme, set up in conjunction with research institutions, is designed to provide all scientific communities with a general overview of the agency’s funding proposals. Work Programme 2019 was adopted by the ANR Governing Board on 3 July 2018.

Generic Call for Proposals (AAPG) 2019: 48 research themes grouped by discipline

The ANR’s Generic Call for Proposals 2019 deploys a range of funding instruments both for performing the roles assigned to it by French public research and innovation policy, and addressing the needs of the project-based research community. These instruments are used to fund individual research projects coordinated by young researchers (JCJC), collaborative research projects between public entities in a national or international context (PRC and PRCI respectively), and between public and private entities with a potential opening to the world of business (PRCE).

The AAPG is divided into research themes, each with its own Scientific Evaluation Panel, enabling coordinators to submit their proposal directly to the relevant panel. For Work Programme 2019, the scope of each AAPG research theme has been redefined and explained in greater detail. In addition, the 48 themes for AAPG 2019 have been grouped together by major research area, so as to make the disciplinary, cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary boundaries clearer for everyone. AAPG 2019 also includes a new scientific theme, “Artificial Intelligence”, which aligns with one of the French state’s priorities.

Values and commitments of Work Programme 2019

The ANR, working alongside research institutions, pledges its ongoing commitments to:

Promoting a culture of research integrity

As a signatory to the French National Charter for Research Integrity, the Agency is committed to promoting a culture of research integrity and to abiding by the rules and best practices outlined in its own Code of Ethics and Scientific Integrity – an essential condition for maintaining the bond of trust between society and the scientific communities.

Giving due consideration to sex and/or gender aspects

The ANR also supports a policy of reducing gender inequalities and developing a scientific culture in which sex and/or gender aspects are given due consideration in research and evaluation processes. Moreover, it is committed to showcasing women in science who have secured funding from the Agency or are involved in Scientific Evaluation Panels.

Complying with the Nagoya Protocol

The ANR is committed to complying with the procedures for applying the Nagoya Protocol, as ratified by the European Union, as part of efforts to tackle biopiracy, preserve biodiversity and local knowledge, and ensure that the benefits of arising from the utilisation of genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably. As such, it will obtain documentary evidence of Due Diligence Declarations (DDDs) for all research projects that it funds in 2018. In addition, coordinators for proposals submitted under AAPG 2019 will be asked to make a declaration on potential utilisation of genetic resources during their projects.

Fostering open publication of research data

The ANR’s Open Science policy aligns with the national plan presented by the French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Frédérique Vidal, on 4 July 2018. As such, the Agency calls on coordinators to consider the importance of research data when setting up projects and throughout the whole process. It requires the full texts of all publications resulting from the projects it funds to be posted in the open archives, and all proposals funded from 2019 onwards will need to have a data management plan (DMP).

The ANR will ensure that all coordinators respect these values and commitments, across all components of Work Programme 2019.

The French state’s strategy priorities

As part of its efforts to clarify its programmes, the agency has also included a component specifically addressing the French state’s strategic priorities and those arising from national plans to strengthen research in specific areas in response to present-day scientific and societal challenges. Specifically, these challenges are artificial intelligence (AI), social sciences and humanities, quantum technologies, antimicrobial resistance, autism in neurodevelopmental disorders, and translational research on rare diseases. The Work Programme also addresses priorities that the Agency shares with co-funding partners, such as “Ending Pesticide Use” with the EcoPhyto Plan.