Transnational cooperation strategy
The ANR is continually developing its transnational activity, whether it be through the implementation of specific initiatives and instruments, or its involvement in various reflection and planning forums. It has become a major actor in building the European Research Area (ERA), and is playing an expanding role on the international stage.
The ANR helps fund French teams through multilateral European programmes (notably the calls co-funded with the European Commission as part of Partnerships from the Horizon Europe programme, and the final calls for instruments in the Horizon 2020 programme), as well as other multilateral initiatives addressing major global challenges or subjects of shared interest for France and partner countries (Belmont Forum, G7 research, etc.).
Supporting French research of excellence within a European and international framework
The primary goals of the ANR’s transnational cooperation strategy are bolstering the European Research Area, and expanding the impact and attractiveness of national research. In connection with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Societal Challenges of the 9th EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FPRI), better known as Horizon Europe, the objective is to combine research efforts in order to make concerted responses to global challenges that cannot exclusively be solved on the national level. It also involves pooling technologies and resources, notably in emerging or little-developed research areas, in addition to sharing research and its costs, with a view to promoting and accelerating the development of knowledge and innovation.
The ANR therefore implements specific initiatives and instruments that:
- Support and strengthen the participation of French teams in European and international programmes,
- Drive high-level partnership-based research dynamics,
- Strengthen the attractiveness, visibility, and influence of French research on the international stage.
Concerted programming
The ANR’s European and international initiatives are developed in keeping with its national initiatives and general programming. In conjunction with institutional research actors, the ANR establishes a Work Programme based on the national research strategy as defined by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR).
Initiatives Connected to the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation
On the European level, the ANR develops initiatives and dedicated funding instruments that complement and bolster the initiatives conducted as part of the FPRI, with a view to best coordinating the existing funding offer within the European Union. The ANR is committed to promoting collaboration between French teams and the best European teams in connection with European thematic instruments. These initiatives are longer-term in nature, helping researchers to constitute enduring scientific networks, and supporting the development of specific and strategic research topics. To this end, emphasis is placed on multi-year logic that prioritizes European activities and links national and European tools.
The ANR also contributes to the National Action Plan To Improve French Participation in European Research and Innovation Funding Instruments (PAPFE) of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. It has also implemented multiple instruments supporting project coordinators in their efforts to develop international projects and networks (SRSEI and MRSEI), as well as their access to European Research Council calls for proposals (Springboard ERC and Access ERC). These instruments are the subject of dedicated calls.
International activity linked to other national instruments
On the international level, the ANR offers the French scientific community initiatives that complement those proposed by research organizations, MESR, and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, all while stressing the coherence of funding possibilities.
View the ANR’s specific instruments and initiatives
