CNRS international tools

CNRS international tools details

CNRS tools for structuring international partnerships

International Research Laboratory (IRL)

An international cooperation tool shared by the CNRS, to help structure highly localized international research collaboration.

What is an IRL?

IRLs are international research establishments where research activities are conducted jointly around shared scientific axes. They structure in an identified location the significant and lasting presence of scientists from a limited number of French and foreign research institutions (only one foreign partner country).

They include establishments bringing together scientists attached to different units and international units – mixed research units with foreign partners (UMI) and service and research units (USR) located abroad – set up when backing from a dedicated operational research structure (SOR) is required.

The International Research Laboratories have a duration of 5 years.

Who are IRL for?

The IRLs bring together personnel carrying out research at the CNRS and partner institutions.

HOW are IRL SET UP?

The IRLsare proposed by the scientific institutes of the CNRS according to their own modalities, on the basis of structured international collaborations, implying a high degree of internationalization of the participating teams and a strong localization of the research activities in a common location.

They are evaluated by peers in the institute and in the section of the National Scientific Research Committee, especially when they lead to the creation of a unit. The location of the activities (prospects for long-term scientific stays or assignments in the case of projects associated with the creation of a dedicated international unit) is an essential evaluation criterion. Also considered are the scientific quality of the project, the interest of the collaboration and its expected impact, the quality of the teams and the institutional partnership, the balance between the institutional partners in the provision of resources, the participation of young researchers, the history of the collaboration, ethics and financial justification.

Decisions concerning the creation or renewal of IRLs are taken by the CNRS board.

What are the contours of the institutional formalization of IRL?

The IRLs are subject to a one-year set-up period during which a constitutive agreement is negotiated between the various French and foreign supervisory authorities involved.

How are IRL financed?

In addition to the resources pooled by the institutions involved and directly mobilised by the participating laboratories, the IRLs benefit from specific dedicated credits from the CNRS for a total amount of between 75,000 and 100,000 euros over their duration. Managed by the CNRS laboratory that is the sponsor of the IRL, these credits are allocated in annual instalments according to the initial project and the scientific assessments and annual financial reports drawn up by its director and members.

In the event of the creation of a dedicated unit, the credits are allocated to this structure and supplemented by specific resources (operating, equipment, investment) and staff assignments.

International Research Project (IRP)

A tool for international cooperation shared by the CNRS, in the service of consolidating research partnerships.

what is an IRP ?

IRPs are collaborative research projects established between one or more CNRS laboratories and laboratories in one or two foreign countries. They enable the consolidation of already established collaborations through short or medium-term scientific exchanges. Their purpose is the organisation of working meetings or seminars, the development of joint research activities including field research, and the supervision of students. French and foreign teams must have already demonstrated their ability to collaborate together (for example through one or more joint publications). These programmes last 5 years.

who are IRP for ?

IRPs are intended for staff carrying out research in a CNRS unit and their partners.

How to propose an IRP ?

Applications must be submitted to the scientific institute of the CNRS to which the bearer’s unit is attached. It is recommended that applicants contact as far in advance as possible the international relations managers of the institute to which their unit belongs in order to find out how to submit a project. In the case of an interdisciplinary project, the different institutes concerned may be informed.

How are IRP evaluated?

Proposals for International Research Projects are evaluated by peers within the scientific institutes of the CNRS according to the following criteria: scientific quality of the project, interest of international collaboration, scientific quality and complementarity of the teams, balance in the distribution of scientific activities between the partners, participation of young researchers, ethics and financial justification, history of relations between the partners.

What is the institutional formalisation of the IRP?

Once selected, the IRPs are the subject of exchanges of institutional commitment letters from French and foreign institutions wishing to become involved in their support, in particular by granting additional credits, according to the internal evaluation and selection procedures specific to each institution.

How are IRP financed?

In addition to the resources directly mobilised by the participating laboratories, International Research Projects benefit from specific credits from the CNRS, mainly dedicated to mobility between teams and the organisation of meetings and field missions for a total amount of between 50,000 and 75,000 euros over their duration. Managed by the CNRS laboratory of the holder, the International Research Project, these credits are allocated in annual instalments on the basis of the initial project and the scientific assessments and annual financial reports drawn up by the holder and its partners.

International Research Network (IRN)

A tool for international cooperation shared by the CNRS, in the service of structuring international research networks.

What is an IRN?

The IRN aims at structuring an international scientific community around a shared theme or research infrastructure. It promotes the organisation of international workshops and seminars or thematic schools organised by the network partners, in France and abroad. It brings together researchers from one or more French laboratories, including at least one CNRS laboratory, and from several partner laboratories abroad for a period of 5 years.

Who are the IRN for?

The IRNs are aimed at staff carrying out research in a CNRS unit and their scientific partners in France and abroad.

How to propose an IRN?

Applications must be submitted to the CNRS scientific institute to which the unit is attached. It is recommended that applicants contact as far in advance as possible the international relations managers of the institute to which their unit belongs in order to find out about the specific procedures for submitting a project. In the case of an interdisciplinary project, the different institutes concerned may be informed.

How are IRN evaluated?

Proposals from International Research Networks are peer-reviewed within the scientific institutes of the CNRS according to the following criteria: scientific quality of the project, interest of international collaboration, scientific quality and complementarity of the teams, history of relationships, balance of participation in scientific animation, participation of young researchers, ethics and financial justification.

Particular attention is paid to the definition of targeted objectives in terms of the expected impact beyond the scientific activities alone (e.g. preparation of a joint response to calls for projects, promotion of joint programming, integration into multilateral networks, organisation of the activity around a research infrastructure).

What are the contours of the institutional formalisation of IRN?

Once selected, the IRNs are the subject of exchanges of institutional commitment letters from French and foreign institutions wishing to become involved in their support, in particular by granting additional credits, according to the internal evaluation and selection procedures specific to each institution.

How are IRN financed?

In addition to the resources directly mobilized by the participating teams, the IRNs benefit from specific credits from the CNRS dedicated to international mobility between the laboratories involved and to the organization of international workshops and seminars, working meetings and thematic schools organized by the partners for a total amount of between 50,000 and 75,000 euros over the duration of the project. Managed by the CNRS laboratory of the IRN holder, the credits are allocated in annual instalments according to the initial project and the scientific assessments and annual financial reports drawn up by the holder and the IRN members.

International Emerging Action (IEA)

A tool for international cooperation shared by the CNRS, in the service of exploring new themes and new international partnerships.

What is an IEA?

International Emerging Actions are “PI-to-PI” projects whose aim is to explore new fields of research and new international partnerships through: short-term missions, the organisation of working meetings, the initiation of initial joint research work around a shared scientific project. These actions have a duration of 2 years.

Who are the IEA aimed at?

The IEAs are intended for staff carrying out research in a CNRS unit and their partners.

How can I apply for an IEA?

Project leaders are invited to apply to the annual call launched by the European Research and International Cooperation Directorate (Derci) of the CNRS in all disciplines and to submit their application on the CNRS CoopIntEer platform between June and September.

To accompany the CNRS scientific policy, the terms of the call may display particular thematic or geographical priorities according to the institutes, applicable to the units of the said institutes.

A letter of support from the foreign partner is expected at the time of submission of the application, certifying possible co-financing for the implementation of the project.

 

How are IEA evaluated?

IEA proposals are peer-reviewed within the scientific institutes of the CNRS according to the following criteria: scientific quality of the project, interest of international collaboration, scientific quality and complementarity of the teams, participation of young researchers, ethics and financial justification.

No prerequisites in terms of prior exchanges or previous publications are required.

How are IEA funded?

In addition to the resources directly mobilized by the participating teams, the IEAs benefit from the CNRS share of specific funds dedicated to international mobility between the laboratories involved, to the organization of working meetings and to the implementation of field missions between the partners for a total amount of between 10 000 and 14 000 euros over the duration of the actions. Managed by the CNRS laboratory of the holder of the IEA, CNRS funding is allocated in annual installments based on the initial project, scientific assessments and annual financial reports drawn up by the holder and its partners.