The essentials of the ASTRID and ASTRID Maturation programmes in 3 questions

What are the goals of the ASTRID programme?

The ASTRID programme aims to stimulate new research avenues and promote scientific and technological breakthroughs with potential applications for defence, civilian research and industry. It supports projects with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of between 1 and 4, ranging from observation and description of basic principles to approval in a laboratory environment. Submitted projects are assessed by an evaluation committee comprising more than 40 leading scientists, as part of a one-stage selection process.

• 255 ASTRID projects have been selected since the creation of the programme in 2011, covering a wide range of scientific themes and interdisciplinary priorities.

What support is there for the results of an ASTRID project?

The scientific progress of an ASTRID project can also be enhanced on its completion by means of the ASTRID Maturation programme created in 2013, which aims to enhance the work carried out in research support schemes proposed by DGA. Projects must have a TRL objective of 5 or more (approval in a representative environment). This includes encouraging a potential industrial partner to contribute to enhancing the results, with a view to demonstrating the technology in a representative environment. The participation of a business partner, in the form of an SME in accordance with the European definition, is essential. The results of an ASTRID project are eligible for ASTRID Maturation for two consecutive years.

About 19% of ASTRID projects from the 2011, 2012 and 2013 editions received ASTRID Maturation funding.

For what benefits?

Each ASTRID project is monitored by a DGA technical expert who is familiar with industrial applications. ASTRID and ASTRID Maturation programmes are conducive to the development of links between laboratories and industrial or institutional environments, and encourage innovation towards future applications. They also allow a partnership to be initiated regarding themes with worthwhile benefits that can be confirmed by industrial or institutional actors.

Since 2011, more than 200 different research units (public laboratories, units or departments of engineering schools, universities or research institutions) throughout France have received ASTRID or ASTRID Maturation funding.

The deadline for submitting applications for the ASTRID 2019 call for proposals is Friday 1 March 2019, at 1pm

Further reading:

• See the presentation of the ASTRID and ASTRID Maturation programmes in the ANR Work Programme