Specific support for research works and innovation for defense: Maturation and Development (ASTRID-Maturation)

The French National Research Agency (ANR) is launching, in partnership with the French armaments procurement agency (DGA), the fifth edition of the ASTRID Maturation programme "Specific support for research works and innovation defence: Maturation and Development”. The programme is entirely funded by the DGA and is implemented by ANR.

ASTRID Maturation is a dedicated programme supporting the development of scientific work carried out in the framework of ASTRID, theses funded by DGA and projects by engineering schools under DGA supervision. This dual-use programme (applications must serve both civilian and military pusposes) is one of the 40 measures of the SME Defence Pact.

The ASTRID-Maturation programme aims to :

• anticipate technology demonstrations and pre-industrial work following up on dual-use scientific innovation,
• boost result’s attractiveness with regard to industry and investors.

The programme, at the borderline between upstream research and technological research, is complementary to RAPID and DGA upstream studies programmes (as far as military applications are concerned) and other civilian supporting programmes (competitiveness clusters, FP7 and Horizon 2020, Technology transfer acceleration companies (SATT)…).

ASTRID Maturation is open to all types of enterprises. However, in order to promote innovation in SMEs, the participation of at least one company in this category is required per project.

The grant awarded to the projects, whose duration must be between 2 and 3 years, is capped at € 500 k.