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Agence nationale de la recherche – Generic Call for Proposals 2017

Work Programme 2018

Generic Call for Proposals

*********

Guide for Applicants 2018*

Submission, Evaluation, Selection and Funding Guidelines

*In case of any difference of interpretation, the French version of the present document shall prevail

Applicants are advised to carefully read the entire document as well as ANR funding allocation procedures (http://www.anr.fr/RF) before submitting research project proposals.

http://www.anr.fr/RF


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Contents

A. CONTEXT OF GENERIC CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2018 (AAPG 2018) ..................................... 5

A.1. OBJECTIVES OF THE GENERIC CALL FOR PROPOSALS ....................................................... 5

A.2. FUNDING INSTRUMENTS .................................................................................................. 6

A.2.1. International Collaborative Research Projects (PRCI) ............................................... 6

A.2.2. Collaborative Research Projects involving Enterprises (PRCE) ...............................10

A.2.3. Collaborative Research Projects (PRC) ...................................................................11

A.2.4. Young Researchers Projects (JCJC) .......................................................................12

B. THE TWO-STAGE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE AAPG IN 2018 ...................................... 14

B.1. GENERAL PROCESS .......................................................................................................14

B.2. PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS ....................................14

B.3. THE SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION PANELS (CES) FOR THE 2018 AAPG ..................................15

B.4. STAGE 1: PRE-PROPOSAL SUBMISSION AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES .............................18

B.4.1. Submitting pre-proposals (PRC/PRCE/JCJC instruments) .......................................18

B.4.2. Eligibility of pre-proposals ........................................................................................20

B.4.3. Evaluation of pre-proposals .....................................................................................21

B.5. STAGE 2: FULL PROPOSAL SUBMISSION AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES ............................23

B.5.1. Submitting full proposals ..........................................................................................23

B.5.2. Eligibility of full proposals .........................................................................................25

B.5.3. Evaluation of full proposals ......................................................................................28

C. SPECIAL MECHANISMS .............................................................................................................. 31

C.1. VERY LARGE RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES (TGIR) ........................................................31

C.2. COMPETITIVENESS CLUSTERS ........................................................................................31

C.3. FRENCH CO-FUNDING .....................................................................................................32

C.4. SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH DATA ..............................................................33


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A. Context of Generic Call for Proposals 2018 (AAPG 2018)

A.1. Objectives of the Generic Call for Proposals

The Generic Call for Proposals is the principle call for proposals launched by ANR and supports the "Research and Innovation" component of the Work Programme 2018 covering five disciplinary fields:

Environmental Sciences, Sciences of the Universe

Physical and Energy Sciences

Life Sciences

Mathematics, Digital Sciences

Humanities, Social Sciences

Therefore, the AAPG is addressed to all scientific communities and all public and private actors

involved in French research, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and very

small enterprises (VSE). It is designed to give researchers in various disciplinary fields access

to further funding in a large number of research topics, whether or not finalised, in addition to

their allocated recurrent funding. All documents relating to the Work Programme 2018 and the

Generic Call for Proposals 2018 are available on the ANR website.

The "Research and Innovation" component of ANR's Work Programme which supports the

AAPG has been structured into 47 research themes:

Thirty-six research themes should help address the major societal challenges identified in France Europe 2020 and used as a framework for the National Research Strategy (SNR).1 As recommended by the National Strategic Council for Research (CSR), these themes are concerned with both fundamental and finalised research. The “fundamental” knowledge is identified as a specific theme, if it underlies the entire challenge, or within different themes if it is characteristic of these. Generally speaking, the research themes encourage an interdisciplinary approach and an integrative vision.

Eight research themes relate to cross-disciplinary challenges at the crossroads of several societal challenges (“Inter-disciplinary” themes).

Three themes fall outside the challenge framework. Their goal is to support certain fundamental disciplines.

Each theme (in some cases sub-theme) in the Work Programme corresponds, within

the AAPG, to a dedicated scientific evaluation panel (CES) covering all topics

concerned. The panels corresponding to interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary themes

include members who cover all required disciplines.

The choice of panel (in connection with a disciplinary field) to assess the project is

made by the project coordinator (when pre-proposals are submitted for PRC, PRCE

and JCJC instruments or when full proposals are submitted for the PRCI funding

instrument) and cannot be changed during the process.

1 The challenge “A spatial ambition for Europe” is an exception as it falls under the responsibility of the CNES (National Space Agency) in its role of resources agency.

http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/PA2018

http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/AAPG2018


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A.2. Funding instruments

There are four funding instruments in the Generic Call for Proposals divided into two

categories:

The "collaborative research" category proposes three instruments: "Collaborative Research Projects" (PRC), "Collaborative Research Projects involving Enterprises" (PRCE), "International Collaborative Research Projects" (PRCI).

The "individual" category relates solely to the "Young Researchers" instrument (JCJC).

The expected impact and characteristics of these different funding instruments determine the

key points in the selection and are described in table 1 below.

A.2.1. International Collaborative Research Projects (PRCI)2

The “International Collaborative Research Projects” (PRCI) funding instrument is specific to

bilateral collaborations between at least one French partner which is a public or

assimilated research body (eligible for ANR funding; see ANR Funding Allocation

Procedures) and at least one foreign partner (eligible for funding from a foreign funding

agency that has signed a bilateral agreement with ANR). Under the Generic Call for Proposals

2018, the countries covered by these bilateral agreements3 are:

In Europe: Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

Internationally: Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Taiwan and Turkey.

For 2018, PRCI4 coordinators should submit a full proposal directly in the second stage,

without any prior registration, at the same time as the PRC, PRCE and JCJC selected

at the end of the first stage.

For PRCI type projects, there should be a strong synergy between the two partners, with the

French and foreign partners becoming equally involved and scientific project coordinators in

each country showing real involvement. In practical terms, equal involvement of French and

foreign partners means:

Both the French and foreign scientific coordinators being clearly identified;

A Work Programme showing well-balanced scientific contributions by partners from each country;

A description of resources showing well-balanced financial contributions by partners from each country.

2 In accordance with the eligibility criteria of generic calls for proposals, the same scientific coordinator

cannot coordinate several pre-proposals or full proposals, all funding instruments and all stages combined, including PRCI projects in which a foreign agency is the Lead Agency. 3 It is possible for foreign partners from other countries and foreign partners not applying for funding from an ANR partner agency to participate but they cannot register under the PRCI instrument. 4 Excepting PRCI for which a foreign agency is Lead Agency (see special conditions below).

http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/RF



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Table1: Table summarising the four funding instruments

Consortium specificities Instrument characteristics

Inte

rnati

on

al

Co

llab

ora

tive

Rese

arc

h P

roje

cts

(PR

CI)

Collaboration between at least one French public or assimilated research body applying for ANR funding and at least one foreign partner simultaneously applying for funding from a foreign funding agency as part of a bilateral agreement between ANR and a foreign agency.

Companies may participate, depending on the agreement with the foreign agency5.

Balance between scientific contributions (jointly defined objectives, shared skills and tasks, shared results) and financial contributions6 of the respective partners in each country and added value for France from the collaboration

Co

llab

ora

tive

Rese

arc

h P

roje

cts

invo

lvin

g E

nte

rpri

se

s

(PR

CE

)

Collaboration between at least one French public or assimilated research body and at least one company conducting research and development work in France.

Potential foreign partners participate with their own funds.

Effective collaboration between the two types of partners (objectives defined jointly, shared skills and tasks, shared results)

Co

llab

ora

tive R

ese

arc

h P

roje

cts

(PR

C)

Collaboration between at least one laboratory run by a French public or assimilated research body and national or international, public or private, research teams or groups.

Collaboration within the same public or assimilated research body between several teams or research teams.

Potential foreign partners participate with their own funds.

Companies conducting R&D work may participate without effective collaboration.

Strong synergy between several skills involved (objectives defined jointly, shared skills and tasks, shared results)

Yo

un

g r

esea

rch

ers

(JC

JC

) One single partner corresponding to a French public or assimilated research body.

Coordinator who obtained diploma (PhD or equivalent) less than 10 years ago (unless there is a derogation).

Collaboration with foreign researchers is possible with own funds.

Collaboration with a company conducting R&D work is possible with own funds but without effective collaboration.

Empower young researchers working in France and encourage them to adopt innovative approaches as they tackle scientific and technological bottlenecks.


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Important points: If they have no foreign partner seeking funding from an ANR partner

agency, applicants with collaborations based on this type of partnership are requested to

choose the PRC or PRC funding instrument. It is possible for French or foreign companies to

participate in a PRCI within the framework of some bilateral agreements but not all of them

(see Table 6: Eligibility criteria specific to bilateral agreements).

For each country with which ANR has entered into a bilateral agreement, there are specific

annexes which describe collaboration themes (see Table 2: Themes and arrangements for

bilateral collaboration between ANR and a foreign agency within the framework of the Generic

Call for Proposals 2018) and special procedures for submission, eligibility and selection. These

annexes will be available on the ANR web page dedicated to the Generic call for proposals

and must be consulted before any projects are submitted to ANR or any foreign partner.

For some international agreements, a "Lead Agency" procedure is set up. Project evaluation

is entrusted to one single agency (the "Lead Agency") which deals with appraising and

evaluating projects. The final selection is conducted jointly by both agencies based on

evaluation elements. Each agency then funds its own country's teams according to its own

procedures.

PRCI for which ANR is the Lead Agency

For PRCI projects involving collaboration with Brazil (FAPESP) and Luxembourg (FNR),

ANR acts as a Lead Agency. Therefore, these projects must be submitted to ANR as part of

the second stage of this Generic Call for Proposals, by selecting the "PRCI" instrument,

according to the conditions described below. The project proposal submitted by the French

coordinator must clearly indicate who the foreign partners are and must identify the foreign

party's scientific coordinator.

Foreign partners may however have to provide certain administrative information documents

(a copy of the project proposal, for example) to the foreign agency. Applicants must refer to

the annex available on ANR’s and the foreign agency’s websites for information on these

specific provisions.

PRCI for which a foreign agency is the Lead Agency

For PRCI involving collaboration with Germany (DFG), Austria (FWF) and Switzerland

(FNS), these agencies act as the Lead Agency respectively. Therefore, these projects must

be submitted to the foreign agency following their respective conditions.. The proposal

5 See country-specific annexes.

6 With regard to "The balance between the scientific and financial contributions from the partners in each country", the economic situation of the countries and the partners is taken into account.


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submitted by the foreign coordinator must clearly indicate who the French partners are and

must identify the French scientific coordinator.

The scientific coordinator and other partners of the French team must provide ANR with

administrative information and a copy of the project proposal in accordance with the

procedures described in the country-specific annex found on the ANR website.

Non-Lead Agency PRCI

For PRCI projects involving collaboration with Brazil (FACEPE), Canada (NSERC), China

(NSFC), Hong Kong (RGC), Japan (MEXT/NSRA), Mexico (CONACYT), Singapore (NRF),

Taiwan (MOST) and Turkey (TUBITAK), projects must be submitted and evaluated by both

agencies at the same time. Both proposals must:

Describe a common scientific project;

Have the same acronym, title and duration;

Clearly indicate who the French and foreign partners are and provide the details of the French and foreign scientific coordinators.

Projects must be submitted to ANR during the second stage of this Generic Call for Proposals,

by selecting the PRCI instrument, according to the conditions described below and in the

specific annex to international collaboration, which will be available on the web page dedicated

to the Generic Call for Proposals.

Projects must be submitted to the foreign agency in accordance with this agency's own

procedure. Applicants are advised to consult the specific country-annex which will be available

on ANR's website and also the foreign agency's website.

Table 2: Themes and arrangements for bilateral collaboration between ANR and a foreign agency within the framework of the Generic Call for Proposals 2018

Countries (agencies)

Collaboration themes Disciplinary

fields concerned (1)

Lead Agency

Brazil (FACEPE)*

• Information and communication technologies • Social sciences and humanities

MSN HSS

-

Brazil (FAPESP)*

• Information and communication technologies • Social sciences and humanities

MSN HSS

ANR

Canada (NSERC)*

Themes of the Canadian SPG-P programme (Strategic Partnership Grants for Projects):

Environment and agriculture; advanced manufacturing; information and communication technologies; natural resources and energy

SME MSN

-

China (NSFC)*

• Water security in watershed

(1) Water cycling in watershed and its response to global change

(2) Impacts of human activities on water security in watershed, remediation and water management

• Green chemistry (recycling, reuse, remediation, chemistry bioresources, CO2 transformation)

• Materials (physical metallurgy)

• Energy and resource ‐ efficient ICT

SESU SME MSN

-


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Collaboration themes Disciplinary

fields concerned (1)

Lead Agency

Hong Kong (RGC)*

All disciplinary fields funded by ANR and HK agency All (except

themes related to security)

-

Japan (MEXT/NSRA)**

Generic Technologies for remote control in hostile environments: robotics including cobotics; remote operation; localization and mapping; image processing; observation system; sensor and materials.*

SME MSN

-

Mexico (CONACYT)*

• Efficient ressource management and adaptation to climate change

• Food security and demographic challenges

• Social sciences and humanities

SESU HSS

-

Singapore (NRF)

Materials nanotechnologies, nanosystems applied to challenges: Clean, secure and efficient energy ; industrial renewal ; sustainable mobility and urban systems ; sustainable information and communication society

SME MSN

-

Taiwan (MOST)*

All disciplinary fields funded by ANR and Taiwanese agency All (except

themes related to security)

-

Turkey (TUBITAK)*

• Marine geosciences • Seismic risks • Sustainable development of marine ecosystems • Social sciences and humanities • Information and communications technology • Energy

SESU SME MSN HSS

-

Germany (DFG)

All disciplinary fields funded by ANR and DFG, except social sciences and humanities*

All except HSS***

DFG(2)

Austria (FWF)* All disciplinary fields funded by ANR and FWF All FWF(2)

Luxembourg (FNR)*

All disciplinary fields funded by ANR and Luxembourg agency

All ANR

Switzerland (FNS)*

All disciplinary fields funded by ANR and FNS All FNS(2)

(1) Disciplinary fields: Environmental Sciences, Sciences of the Universe (SESU); Physical and Energy Sciences

(SME); Life Sciences (SV); Mathematics, Digital Sciences (MSN); Humanities, Social Sciences (HSS).

* ANR – foreign agency collaboration procedures will be confirmed at the time of publication of the Generic Call for

Proposals; see the specific annexes available on the ANR website.

** MEXT funding is restricted to nuclear research whereas ANR funding is not dedicated to nuclear research, as a

consequence the research proposals are expected to concern dual research work and technologies that can be

relevant for decommissioning but could be applied to the fields other than nuclear field..

*** Social sciences and humanities are the subject of a specific bilateral ANR-DFG call (« FRAL ») (2) In 2018, the evaluation is conducted by the partner agency (DFG, FWF or FNS).

A.2.2. Collaborative Research Projects involving Enterprises (PRCE)

The funding instrument "Collaborative Research Projects involving Enterprises" (PRCE)

concerns effective collaboration between at least one public or assimilated French

research body and at least one commercial enterprise conducting research and

development in France. This collaboration attempts to yield findings that are advantageous

to both parties by enabling public research bodies to address new research issues or address


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them differently, and by enabling companies that conduct R&D to access high-level public

research in order to improve their innovation capacities over different periods.7

A project is considered to be carried out through effective collaboration8 when at least two

independent parties pursue a common objective based on a division of labour and jointly define

its scope, contribute to its implementation and share its financial, technological, scientific and

other risks and results. One or several parties may bear the full cost of the project and thus

relieve other parties of any financial risks.

The terms and conditions of a PRCE, in particular as regards contributions to its costs, sharing

of risks and results, dissemination of results, rules on the allocation of intellectual property

rights and access to them, must be concluded before the start of the project in a consortium

agreement9.

The provision of research services is not considered a form of effective collaboration.

Therefore, companies that are simply providers of technology or services to a project cannot

be identified as partners within a PRCE, but can be listed as potential service providers to one

of the partners within the framework of a PRC, PRCI or JCJC coordinator project.

Collaboration with companies not conducting research and development (SATT, etc.) or with

partners whose category10 cannot be established without in-depth analysis of their economic

activity (for example: associations, foundations, technical centres, etc.) is possible but not

sufficient to take part in the PRCE instrument. If there are no commercial companies

conducting research and development, collaborations involving such partners are asked to

choose another funding tool, in particular a PRC.

Any foreign partners11 involved in a PRCE participate with their own funds.

A.2.3. Collaborative Research Projects (PRC)

The "Collaborative Research Project" (PRC) funding instrument is the ANR's main funding

instrument. It includes all forms of cooperation other than those concerned by the PRCI and

PRCE instruments (see Table1: Table summarising the four funding instruments). Therefore,

the collaboration12 may include any national or international, public or private teams or groups

provided that there is at least one French public or assimilated research body.

7 Pursuant to the rules on State aid for research and development and innovation (see Rules relating to the allocation of ANR aidhttp://www.anr.fr/RF).

8 Effective collaboration is defined within the framework for State funding for Research and Development and Innovation No 2014/C 198/01. (See § 4.3.3 of rules relating to the allocation of ANR aid).

9 See data sheet on ANR website (http://www.anr.fr/RF).

10 Research body or Company, as defined in the rules relating to the allocation of ANR aid (http://www.anr.fr/RF).

11 "Foreign Partner" refers to any partner who does not own an establishment or branch in France.

12 The collaborative nature of a given project is not determined by the number of partners involved but in terms of skills pooled to achieve the project’s objectives. Teams or multidisciplinary groups within the same organisation may therefore put forward projects that could be considered collaborative.

http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/fileadmin/documents/2017/Fiche_RF4_-_Accords_de_consortium.pdf

http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/fileadmin/documents/2017/Fiche_RF4_-_Accords_de_consortium.pdf


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The simple provision of technologies or services to conduct a project is not considered a form

of collaboration. Therefore, such suppliers or providers cannot be identified as partners in a

PRC but can be identified as potential service providers for one of the partners.

Any foreign partners13 involved in a PRC participate with their own funds.

The participation of companies conducting research and development in a PRC is possible,

but limited to forms of collaboration that cannot be described as effective collaboration14.

Effective collaborations with commercial companies conducting research and development are

asked to choose the PRCE instrument.

A.2.4. Young Researchers Projects (JCJC)

The goal of the "Young Researchers" (JCJC) funding instrument is to prepare the new

generation of young research talent to become leaders and pioneers in French scientific

research. It must encourage the empowerment of young researchers and encourage them to

adopt innovative approaches to overcome scientific and technological hurdles.

The instrument allows young researchers working in France to explore their own theme of

research, form or consolidate a team, acquire a project-based research culture and rapidly

unleash their innovative talents. The instrument is also a springboard for young researchers

(see eligibility criteria below) who, thanks to initial support from ANR, are given a leg up when

it comes to submitting a project in response to calls from the European Research Council

(ERC), with greater chances of success.

As the instrument targets individuals, funding granted by ANR may only cover the

expenditures relating to the young researcher’s team. Therefore, only one partner may

receive funding and this partner must be a French public or assimilated research body.

For the JCJC instrument, the notion of "team" allows collaboration within the same public

research body or in the applicant's laboratory and does not exclude collaboration with

researchers from other public research organisations or laboratories. Identifying collaborators

or collaborations that use their own funds in a project shall be justified by their contribution of

skills to achieve the scientific objectives of the project proposed within the framework of the

JCJC instrument and the objectives of the instrument (see).15

To be classified as "Young Researchers" applicants must have completed their doctoral thesis

(or any degree or qualification equivalent to an international PhD) less than 10 years ago (i.e.

after 1 January 2007).16 There is no age limit. However, young researchers eligible for the

13 "Foreign Partner" refers to any partner who does not own an establishment or branch in France.

14 Collaboration is described as effective when at least two independent parties pursue a common objective based on a division of labour and jointly define its scope, contribute to its implementation and share its financial, technological, scientific and other risks and results. One or several parties may bear the full cost of the project and thus relieve other parties of any financial risks.

15 These collaborations should not be identified as "partners" when submitting projects.

16 Exceptions may be granted. The following events occurring after the PhD is awarded can be taken into

account: maternity leave, parental leave, long-term sick leave (more than 90 days), national service. The limit is pushed back for a period equal to the duration of the event. Additionally, for women the limit is extended by one


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JCJC instrument (who have defended their theses within the set time frame) are not obliged

to submit their proposals under this instrument and may submit them under the PRC, PRCE

or PRCI instruments if the composition and size of the projects justify this.

In 2018, the instrument is only available to young researchers who have a permanent

contract with the same public or assimilated research body at the time pre-proposals are

submitted, at the time full proposals are submitted and for the time it takes to complete

projects.17

Young researchers' salaries are not expenditures that are eligible for ANR funding. However,

for researchers who teach, ANR funding may cover the cost of partially releasing them from

teaching duties in accordance with rules on the allocation of release voted by the Board of

Directors of the establishment managing the funding.18

It is not possible to combine JCJC funding with a similar type of funding (for example: ATIP-

AVENIR, Momentum CNRS, Starting or Consolidator Grants from the European Research

Council (ERC), etc.

year per dependent child. Where appropriate, supporting documents will have to be provided when the full proposal is submitted.

17 For public research bodies, this means permanent researchers employed in France (tenured or in the process of being tenured). For public bodies and assimilated establishments that employ staff on permanent contracts, if the duration of the contract is shorter than that of the project, the renewal or extension must be possible and assured.

18 See rules relating to the allocation of ANR aid (http://www.anr.fr/RF; § 4.2.3).

http://www.anr.fr/RF


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B. The two-stage selection process for the AAPG in 2018

B.1. General process

Projects submitted within the framework of the Generic Call for Proposals 2018 (AAPG 2018)

go through a two-stage selection process, described below.

The first stage (except PRCI) involves identifying pre-proposals for which it is justified to write

full proposals, particularly in terms of quality and scientific aims (see § B.4.3. Evaluation of pre-

proposals). At the end of the first stage, approximately 2,500 to 3,000 applicants will be invited

to submit full proposals.

The second stage (including PRCI) is aimed at selecting the best proposals by assessing,

in accordance with international competitive project selection standards, firstly the scientific

excellence and secondly the quality of construction and potential impact of the project

described in a full proposal (see § B.5.3. Evaluation of full proposals). At the end of this stage,

ANR publishes the list of projects selected for funding.

B.2. Parties involved in the evaluation and selection process

Project selection at ANR is based on the principle of peer review. Panels are organised and in

stage two, external peer reviewers, appointed by the panels themselves, are called upon for

their scientific expertise related to the project being evaluated:

The scientific evaluation panels (CES) are composed of highly qualified French or foreign individuals from the research communities concerned by the panel.

The composition of the panel covers all the disciplinary fields and themes related to the projects submitted to the panel.

The chairperson of each evaluation panel is trained in ANR’s different selection process procedures. He/she runs a CES bureau consisting of at least two vice presidents who assist in preparing the panel’s work.

Members of the panel are appointed by ANR for their scientific expertise upon a proposal by the panel's bureau. They are in charge of evaluating and selecting pre-proposals (stage 1), with the exceptional assistance of external peer reviewers, and evaluating and ranking full proposals (stage 2) with the assistance of external peer reviewers.

The external peer reviewers in the area(s) concerned by the project independently write evaluations of one or more pre-proposals or full proposals without participating in panel meetings.

The provisions of the ANR Code of Ethics shall apply to all persons involved in the

selection of projects (including ANR personnel).

http://www.agence-nationale-recherche.fr/missions-et-organisation/qualitedeontologie/chartedeontologieselection/


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B.3. The Scientific Evaluation Panels (CES) for the 2018 AAPG

When projects are submitted online, each applicant chooses a scientific evaluation panel, the

scientific scope and keywords of which are described in the Generic Call for Proposals 2018.

When the project is submitted, the project coordinator chooses the panel in which

it will be evaluated (the pre-proposal for PRC, PRCE and JCJC instruments or the full

proposal for PRCI instrument) and this choice cannot be modified during the

process.

The draft list of panels (see Table 3 below) may be revised after the submission stage

depending on the number and nature of pre-proposals submitted. If modifications are made to

this list or to the scope of CES panels, ANR will inform coordinators effected by this so that a

change of assignment can be made. They will be asked to approve this.

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Table3: Draft list of scientific evaluation panels (CES)

Reference Work Programme

CES name CES number

Related disciplinary fields

§ B.1, Theme 1.1 Environments and biodiversity: Fluid and solid earth CE01 SESU

§ B.1, Theme 1.2 Environments and biodiversity: Living earth CE02 SESU, SV

§ B.1, Theme 2 Scientific and technological innovations to support the ecological transition CE04 SESU, SME, MSN

§ B.2, Theme 1 Sustainable, clean, safe and efficient energy CE05 SESU, SME, MSN, HSS

§ B.3, Theme 1 Factory of the future: People, organisations, technologies CE10 SME, MSN, HSS

§ B.3, Theme 2 Metallic and inorganic materials and associated processes CE08 SME

§ B.3, Theme 3 Molecular chemistry, sustainable chemistry and associated processes CE07 SME

§ B.3, Theme 4 Polymers, composites, physics and chemistry of soft matter CE06 SME

§ B.3, Theme 5 Nanomaterials and nanotechnologies for the products of the future CE09 SME

§ B.3, Theme 6 Sensors, instrumentation CE42 SME, SV, MSN

§ B.3, Theme 7 Chemistry: analysis, theory and modelling CE29 SME

§ B.4, Theme 1.2 Biochemistry of living organisms CE44 SV

§ B.4, Theme 1.1 Characterisation of structures and structure-function relations of biological macromolecules CE11 SV

§ B.4, Theme 2 Genetics, genomics and RNA CE12 SV, HSS

§ B.4, Theme 3 Cellular biology, Developmental biology and Evolution CE13 SV

§ B.4, Theme 4 Physiology and physiopathology CE14 SV

§ B.4, Theme 5 Immunology, infectiology and inflammation CE15 SV

§ B.4, Theme 6 Molecular and cellular neuroscience – Developmental neurobiology CE16 SV

§ B.4, Theme 6 Integrative neuroscience CE37 SV, HSS

§ B.4, Theme 7 Translational health research CE17 SV

§ B.4, Theme 8 Biomedical innovation CE18 SV

§ B.4, Theme 9 Healthcare technologies CE19 SV, MSN

§ B.5, Theme 1 Biology of animals, photosynthetic organisms and micro-organisms CE20 SV

§ B.5, Theme 2 Food and food systems CE21 SME, SV, HSS

§ B.6, Theme 1 Sustainable mobility and urban systems CE22 All


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Reference Work Programme

CES name CES number

Related disciplinary fields

§ B.7, Themes 2 & 6 High performance communication infrastructures (networks, computing and storage), software sciences and technologies

CE25 MSN

§ B.7, Theme 3 Interaction, Robotics – Artificial Intelligence CE33 MSN

§ B.7, Theme 4 Data, Knowledge, Big Data, Multimedia Content – Artificial Intelligence CE23 MSN, HSS

§ B.7, Theme 5 Digital models, simulations, applications CE46 MSN

§ B.7, Theme 7 Micro- and nanotechnologies for information and communication processing CE24 MSN

§ B.7 Quantum Technologies CE47 SME, MSN

§ B.8, Themes 1 & 3 Innovation, Work CE26 HSS

§ B.8, Theme 2 Inequalities, discriminations, migrations CE41 HSS

§ B.8, Theme 4 Lifelong cognitive skills, education and training CE28 HSS

§ B.8, Theme 5 Culture, creations, heritage CE27 HSS

§ B.9, Theme 1 to 5 Global security and Cybersecurity CE39 SME, MSN, HSS

§ B.10, Theme 1 Mathematics, computer science theory, control and signal processing CE40 MSN

§ B.10, Theme 2 Physics of condensed matter and diluted matter CE30 SME

§ B.10, Theme 3 Sub-atomic physics, Sciences of the Universe, Structure and History of Earth CE31 SESU, SME

§ B.11, Theme 1 Mathematics, computer science, control, signal processing to meet the challenges of biology and health

CE45 SV, MSN

§ B.11, Theme 2 Public health CE36 SV, HSS

§ B.11, Theme 3 Bioeconomics: specific technologies (chemistry, biotechnology, processes) and system approaches

CE43 SESU, SME, SV, HSS

§ B.11, Theme 4 The Digital Revolution: relationship to knowledge and culture CE38 MSN, HSS

§ B.11, Theme 5 Dynamics of ecosystems and their components for their sustainable management CE32 SESU, SV, HSS

§ B.11, Theme 6 Contaminants, ecosystems and health CE34 SESU, SV

§ B.11, Theme 7 Health-Environment: Environment, pathogens and emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases, resistance to antimicrobial agents

CE35 SESU, SV, HSS

§ B.11, Theme 8 Human-environment interactions CE03 SESU, HSS (1) Disciplinary fields: Environmental Sciences, Sciences of the Universe (SESU); Physical and Energy Sciences (SME); Life Sciences (SV); Mathematics, Digital Sciences

(MSN); Humanities, Social Sciences (HSS).


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B.4. Stage 1: pre-proposal submission and evaluation procedures

B.4.1. Submitting pre-proposals (PRC/PRCE/JCJC instruments)

The pre-proposal includes:

A form to be filled in online

A document describing the project (maximum of 4 pages including the bibliography)

CVs of the coordinator, the partners' scientific officers and people highly involved in the project, to be filled in online.

The full proposal must describe the same project as the one described in the pre-proposal

selected at the end of the first stage. Some of the information may seem straightforward during

the first stage (partnership, length of project, provisional amount of grant requested, etc.) but

it is important to record it correctly, checking with the partner's appropriate administrative and

financial departments, because modifications may be considered as too significant, making

the full proposal out of line with the pre-proposal.

Online form

The account used to log onto the online submission site must be set up using information on

the scientific coordinator (surname, first name, e-mail address (preferably institution's e-

mail)), even if a third party enters the information online. The coordinator's identity cannot be

modified when the full proposal is submitted.

The following information must be provided online:

Scientific evaluation panel

Project identification19 (acronym, French and English title, duration, funding instrument, etc.)

Partnership20 (all partner establishments, scientific officers and main people involved in the project)

The RNSR ID (National directory of research structures) for public or assimilated bodies, 21 or the SIRET number for companies. Administrative information on associations, foundations and other partner organisations should be provided in a free field.

19 The acronym and funding instrument cannot be modified in the full proposal.

20 The scientific coordinator cannot be modified in the full proposal.

21 It is compulsory to provide the RNSR number of public and assimilated laboratories. By indicating the RNSR

ID, most of the administrative information on the establishment is automatically completed. If the information on the laboratory's RNSR ID is inaccurate, missing or in the process of being changed, applicants can indicate the exact or new information in a free field. If the laboratory does not have a RNSR ID, there is a free field in which applicants can enter key information to identify the research body.


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The e-mail addresses of the Laboratory Director and the Administrative Director of the establishment managing funding.

Scientific abstracts (non-confidential) in French or in English (it is compulsory to provide at least one abstract of 100 to 1,000 characters).

Experts requested to abstain from evaluation (field not compulsory but must be completed at this stage if appropriate): applicants can indicate external peer reviewers (individuals) or laboratories/companies for which there could be conflicts of interest and confidentiality issues if they were involved in evaluating the proposal.22

Other information (use of a very large research infrastructure – TGIR, application for a competitiveness cluster label, interest in co-funding).

For JCJC, year in which the doctoral thesis (or any degree or qualification corresponding to the international PhD) was completed.

As some information cannot be changed when submitting the full proposal, applicants are

advised to read the eligibility criteria carefully and already bear them in mind at the pre-

proposal stage (see § B.5.2 Eligibility of full proposals).

Applicants' commitment

Each scientific officer of every French partner seeking funding (not including foreign partners)

formally declares that (simply tick box in the online form) that their superiors particularly the

appropriate administrative and financial departments and the persons authorised to legally

commit the institution managing funding, or their representatives, have consented to their

current submission procedure and all information related to the pre-proposal (and

subsequently the proposal) has been communicated to them. ANR may send the list of

submissions to Laboratory Directors and Administrative Directors of establishments managing

funding for projects related to them.

Project description

The project description must provide the information needed for its evaluation based on the 3

pre-defined criteria. Therefore, the following plan must be followed:

Context, positioning and objective of pre-proposal: Describe the objectives and scientific hypotheses. Demonstrate the originality and

relevance in relation to the state of the art. The methodology and scientific risk

management can be described succinctly at the pre-proposal stage, if applicants wish

so.

Project organisation and resources implemented: Briefly present the scientific coordinator and describe his/her involvement. Present the

consortium and its complementarity. The resources implemented to achieve the

objectives may be briefly included in the pre-proposal, if applicants wish so.

Impact and opportunities created by the project: Describe in what field(s) (scientific, economic, social or cultural) project results may

have an impact. Describe how impacts expected from the project address challenges

22 This list should be limited to a reasonable length. ANR reserves the right to check potential conflicts if the list provided is too extensive and makes evaluation impossible.


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listed in ANR Work Programme 2018. The basic dissemination and/or exploitation

strategy envisaged may be described at the pre-proposal stage, if applicants wish so.

Bibliography: In the absence of an appendix, the bibliography must be included in the scientific document to be submitted.

Applicants are provided with a template (recommended but non-compulsory) on the page

dedicated to the Generic Call for Proposals on ANR's website.

The project description must:

Contain a maximum of 4 pages. The number of pages does not include the CV which must be completed online.

Be submitted in an unprotected PDF format (generated using word-processing software, not scanned).

Be drafted preferably in English. Applicants are strongly advised to draft the document in English as evaluations may be carried out by non-French-speaking scientists. If the project description is written in French, a translation may be requested. If applicants are unable to provide an English translation, they can contact ANR to find an appropriate solution.

The submission site will not upload any documents exceeding four pages or submitted in a

format other than PDF.

B.4.2. Eligibility of pre-proposals

ANR will only verify eligibility on the basis of information and documents provided on the pre-

proposal submission site on the closure date. Pre-proposals deemed ineligible will not be

evaluated23 and cannot be the subject of full proposals. Pre-proposals may be declared

ineligible at any stage of the process.

Please note: When analysing eligibility, the information entered online shall take precedence

over that indicated in the project description if these two sources of information conflict with

each other, and if the information is incorrectly indicated or missing.

Completeness of pre-proposals: pre-proposals should be finalised on the submission site

no later than the date and time of closure for pre-proposal submissions: 26 October 2017 at

1 pm (Paris time). No document will be accepted after this date and time. Complete pre-

proposals must include:

The fully completed online form;

The project description document, not exceeding four pages, uploaded to the submission site;

CVs of the coordinator and any partners' scientific officers (to be completed online).

Only one proposal per scientific coordinator in response to the Generic Call for

Proposals: one single person cannot coordinate several pre-proposals or full proposals, all

23 Ineligible pre-proposals are rejected without any evaluation of their scientific value by panel members.



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funding instruments taken together.

If this rule is ignored, all pre-proposals and full proposals submitted by one single scientific

coordinator will be considered ineligible.

Uniqueness is verified by ANR on the basis of the identity of the scientific coordinator as a

natural person, for all instruments (PRC, PRCE, JCJC, PRCI).

A coordinator cannot be involved in more than three proposals: a researcher

cannot be involved as a coordinator or partner's scientific officer in more than three

proposals submitted within the framework of the ANR Work Programme 2018, all calls taken

together.24

All proposals that fail to comply with this rule are ineligible.

Uniqueness of the proposal: a proposal cannot be similar in whole or in part to another

proposal submitted to a call under evaluation (all calls for projects, all evaluation stages taken

together) or that resulted in funding. All similar proposals are ineligible.

Similarity is established if the proposals in question (in their entirety or partially) describe the

same main objectives, or are simple adaptations, AND involve mostly the same teams.

Partners receiving funding: the consortium must include at least one partner that is a French "public or assimilated research body".25

Themes funded by other funding bodies: Themes must correspond to those within ANR's

scope of action which do not overlap those of other funding agencies (particularly INCa,

ANRS).

Eligibility of proposals on topics funded by these bodies (in particular cancer, AIDS and viral

hepatitis) is jointly determined by ANR and said bodies. Any PRC or JCJC proposal identified

as being covered by calls for proposals organised by the above-mentioned bodies shall be

declared ineligible for the ANR call for proposals.

B.4.3. Evaluation of pre-proposals

Each pre-proposal is evaluated by two members of the Scientific Evaluation Panel (CES). For

projects of a marked cross-disciplinary or inter-disciplinary nature, a 3rd panel member is called

upon (from within the evaluation panel itself or from another panel).

CES members evaluate the pre-proposals assigned to them individually. external appraisals

are not sought at this stage, unless panel members make an exceptional request.

24 Therefore, the roles of a researcher cannot exceed i) a coordinator for one project and a partners' scientific officer for two projects, or ii) a partners' scientific officer for three projects (including PRCI). (including PRCI). All the calls for the Work Plan 2018 are concerned.

25 See the rules relating to ANR funding allocation procedures (http://www.anr.fr/RF).


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Evaluation criteria for pre-proposals

Pre-proposals are evaluated on the basis of 3 criteria (or 6 sub-criteria). (Table 4 below).

Table4: Pre-proposal evaluation criteria according to the funding instrument

PRCE PRC JCJC

Criterion 1: Quality and scientific aims

(discriminating criterion: an "A" ranking is required)

▪ Clarity of research objectives and hypotheses

▪ Novelty, originality, improvement to the state of the art

Criterion 2: Organisation of the project and the means implemented

▪ Skills, expertise and involvement of the scientific coordinator and the partners

▪ Quality and complementarity of the consortium, quality of the collaboration

▪ Quality and potential of the JCJC and his/her team

Criterion 3: Impact and consequences of the project

▪ The project's capacity to address the research issues identified in the Work Programme

▪ Potential impact in scientific, economic, social or cultural areas.

During the evaluation, the criterion on "quality and scientific aims” will be a

discriminating factor (an "A" rating is required).

The sub-criteria of the three main criteria present a level of detail adapted to the content and

the size of the pre-proposal scientific document. The sub-criteria serve as a guide for

applicants compiling their files and for assessors evaluating the proposals.26

Each evaluator (panel member) fills out an evaluation report for each of the pre-proposals

assigned to him/her. If an external appraisal is exceptionally requested, the evaluator takes it

into account (external appraisals do not include ratings).

Ranking

Scientific evaluation panels meet up following the drafting of individual evaluations. A proposal-

by-proposal collegial discussion shall determine the ranking of pre-proposals, broken down

into three categories: A (Project can be entered into stage 2) / B (Project not selected. Project

is satisfactory but has weak points and cannot be selected for stage 2) / C (Project not

26 Although methodological aspects and feasibility of projects are not evaluated as such during the first stage, applicants are advised to mention them briefly in the pre-proposals if they are essential for the definition of research objectives and hypotheses.


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selected. Project has weak points and requires significant changes). Each CES panel shall

decide the proportions of the three categories.

Results

At the outcome of this first stage, 2,500 to 3,000 the scientific coordinators of pre-proposals

are invited to submit full proposals.

ANR sends e-mails to all scientific coordinators of pre-proposals informing them of the results

of this first stage. A summary of the panel's evaluation is always given, unless the evaluation

could not be completed (e.g. when pre-proposals are declared ineligible).

B.5. Stage 2: full proposal submission and evaluation procedures

B.5.1. Submitting full proposals

Full proposals include:

A form to be filled in online,

A scientific document (20 pages maximum including the bibliography) to be uploaded to the submission site

CVs of the coordinator, any partners' scientific officers and the main people involved in the project, to be filled in online.27

Concerning eligibility checks, the full proposal shall be considered complete if the above

documents are filled in and uploaded to the submission website on the specified submission

deadline.

Online form

For PRC, PRCE and JCJC instruments, some fields are pre-filled with information provided

during the pre-proposal stage and cannot be changed (project acronym, funding instrument,

scientific coordinator’s first and last names/e-mail address).

The following information in particular must be checked and completed if necessary

(PRC/PRCE/JCJC instruments) / entered online (PRCI instrument):

Project identification28 (acronym, French and English title, duration, funding instrument, etc.);

Partner's identification (RNSR ID29, full name, abbreviated title, category of partner and system for calculating grant amounts; type and unit number, managing and hosting authorities for a research body's laboratory; SIRET number and workforce numbers for companies, etc.).

27 The information (CV) provided during stage 1 will be automatically entered and can be changed or completed if necessary.

28 The acronym and funding instrument must be the same as those used for the pre-proposal.

29 If the information is incorrect, missing or new, a free field is available for applicants to make the necessary modifications to the identification of the research body.


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Identification of Scientific Officers (including the coordinator) and addresses of places where research is performed;

Financial data (broken down by expenditure heading and Partner)30;

Scientific abstracts (between 1,000 and 4,000 characters per field): Scientific abstract (non-confidential) of the project in French and English, overall objectives, scientific/technical obstacles.

Criteria specific to PRCI projects, identification of foreign partner concerned by bilateral agreement and its scientific officer, places where research is to be performed and amount requested from foreign agency;

Criteria specific to JCJC projects, if appropriate, documents supporting requests for exemptions from "Young Researcher" status (§ B.5.2. Eligibility of full proposals).

The only information that has to be completed online concerning foreign partners participating

with their own funds is the identity of the scientific officer and the place where the research is

to be performed.

Applicants' commitment

Each scientific officer of every French partner seeking funding (not including foreign partners)

formally declares that (simply tick box in the online form) their superiors, particularly the

appropriate administrative and financial departments and the persons authorised to legally

commit the institution managing funding, or their representatives, have consented to their

current submission procedure and all information relating to the proposal has been

communicated to them. ANR may send the list of submissions it has registered to Laboratory

Directors and Administrative Directors of establishments managing funding for projects related

to them.

Project description

The scientific document in the full proposal must provide the information needed for its

evaluation based on the 3 pre-defined criteria (see Table 7; § B.5.4). Therefore, the scientific

document must follow the following plan:

Context, positioning and objective of proposal:

Describe the objectives and scientific hypotheses. Demonstrate the originality and

relevance in relation to the state of the art. Describe the methodology and scientific risk

management.

Organisation of the project and the means implemented:

Present the scientific coordinator and describe his/her involvement. Present the

consortium and its complementarity. Give a detailed description of the research

programme and the allocation of work tasks between the different partners, and

illustrate with a Gantt chart. Describe the resources implemented to achieve the

objectives (including the following: justifications for resources requested broken down

30 Moreover, a justification for the funding request is required in the scientific document provided in the full proposal.


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into items of expenditure and in relation to objectives, the context in terms of human

and financial resources for the project, comparing it to other ongoing projects).

Impact and opportunities created by the project:

Describe in what field(s) (scientific, economic, social or cultural) project results may

have an impact. Describe how impacts expected from the project address challenges

listed in ANR Work Programme 2018. Describe the strategy for dissemination and/or

exploitation.

Bibliography:

In the absence of an appendix, the bibliography must be included in the scientific

document to be submitted.

Applicants are provided with a template (recommended but non-compulsory) on the page

dedicated to the Generic Call for Proposals on ANR's website.

The scientific document must:

Contain a maximum of 20 pages, including the bibliography, Gantt chart and budget;

Be submitted in an unprotected PDF format (generated using word-processing software, not scanned);

Be drafted preferably in English. Applicants are strongly advised to draft the document in English as evaluations may be carried out by non-French-speaking scientists. If the project description is written in French, a translation may be requested. If applicants are unable to provide an English translation, they can contact ANR to find an appropriate solution.

The submission site will not upload any documents exceeding 20 pages or submitted in a

format other than PDF.

B.5.2. Eligibility of full proposals

ANR will only verify eligibility (see Table 5 below) on the basis of information and documents

provided on the full proposal submission site on the closure date. Proposals deemed ineligible

will not be evaluated. Full proposals may be declared ineligible at any stage of the

process.

Please note: When analysing eligibility, the information entered online shall take precedence

over that indicated in the scientific document, if these two sources of information conflict with

each other, and if the information is incorrectly indicated or missing.



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Table 5: Detailed full proposal eligibility criteria according to the funding instrument chosen

PRCI PRCE PRC JCJC

Completeness of proposal X X X X

One single proposal per scientific coordinator X X X X

A coordinator cannot be involved in more than

three proposals

X X X X

Uniqueness of proposal X X X X

Partner receiving funding X X X X

Compliance with pre-proposal X X X

Themes funded by other funding bodies X X

Status of Young Researcher X

Foreign partner concerned by bilateral agreement X

Completeness of proposal: Proposals should be finalised on the submission site on the

specified date and time of closure. To be considered complete, a full proposal must include:

The fully completed online form;

A commitment from each scientific officer of every partner seeking funding from ANR;

A scientific document uploaded to the submission website not exceeding 20 pages;

CVs of the coordinator and any partners' scientific officers involved in the project (to be completed online).

One single proposal per scientific coordinator in response to the Generic Call for

Proposals: One single scientific coordinator cannot coordinate several pre-proposals or full

proposals, all funding instruments taken together.

All the pre-proposals and full proposals submitted by one single scientific coordinator will be

considered ineligible.

Uniqueness is verified by ANR on the basis of the identity of the scientific coordinator as a

natural person, for all instruments (PRC, PRCE, JCJC, PRCI).

A coordinator cannot be involved in more than three proposals: A researcher cannot be

involved as a coordinator or partner's scientific officer in more than three proposals submitted

within the framework of the ANR Work Programme 2018 (all calls taken together).31

All full proposals that fail to comply with this rule are ineligible.

Uniqueness of proposal: a proposal cannot be similar in whole or in part to another proposal

submitted to a call under evaluation (all calls for projects, all evaluation stages taken together)

or that resulted in funding. All similar proposals are ineligible. Similarity is established if the

proposals in question (in their entirety or partially) describe the same main objectives, or are

simple adaptations, AND involve mostly the same teams.

31 Reminder: Therefore, the roles of a researcher cannot exceed i) a coordinator for one project and a partners' scientific officer for two projects, or ii) a partners' scientific officer for three projects (including PRCI).


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Partners receiving funding: the consortium must include at least one partner that is a French

"public or assimilated research body".

Compliance with pre-proposal: The full proposal must describe the same project as that

described in the pre-proposal. The funding instrument and the scientific coordinator must be

the same as for the pre-proposal. The relevance of other discrepancies will be assessed by

panel members. If there is a significant deviation, the proposal is declared ineligible and cannot

receive ANR funding.

Themes funded by other funding bodies: Themes must correspond to those within ANR's

scope of action which do not overlap those of other funding agencies (particularly INCa,

ANRS).

Eligibility of proposals on topics funded by these bodies (in particular cancer, AIDS and viral

hepatitis) is jointly determined by ANR and said bodies. Any PRC or JCJC proposal identified

as being covered by calls for proposals organised by the above-mentioned bodies shall be

declared ineligible for the ANR call for proposals.

"Young Researcher" status: The full proposal will be considered ineligible if scientific

coordinators declare they have obtained their doctoral thesis (or any degree, diploma or

qualification corresponding to the international standard of PhD) before 1 January 2007,

without having provided supporting documents32 online at the time and date of closure for the

submission of full proposals.

Foreign partner concerned by bilateral agreement: The consortium must include at least

one French partner (categorised as a "research body") and at least one foreign partner

concerned by the bilateral agreement. Two scientific coordinators should be clearly indicated,

one who is French and the other who is from the other country concerned by the bilateral

agreement.

Criteria specific to PRCI projects: The foreign agency’s eligibility criteria may apply on top

of those mentioned above. Applicants must therefore carefully read the call upon its publication

by the foreign agency to check for possible additional criteria.

Table 6: Eligibility criteria specific to bilateral agreements


Submission to ANR

Submission to foreign agency Duration

Participation of company

Other

Brazil (FACEPE)* Yes Yes

Brazil (FAPESP)* Yes Administrative

registration

Canada (NSERC)*

Yes Yes Project duration 36

months (max.)

China (NSFC)*

Yes Yes Project duration 36

to 48 months (max.) Ineligible

32 Exceptions may be granted. The following events occurring after the PhD is awarded can be taken into account: maternity leave, parental leave, long-term sick leave (more than 90 days), national service. The limit is pushed back for a period equal to the duration of the event. Additionally, for women the limit is extended by one year per dependent child. Where appropriate, supporting documents will have to be provided when the full proposal is submitted.


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Submission to ANR

Submission to foreign agency Duration

Participation of company

Other

Hong Kong (RGC)*

Yes

Yes

maximum of 5 projects per Hong Kong-based

organisation (pre-selection performed by

foreign applicant’s organisation)

Japan (MEXT/NRSA)

Yes Yes

Mexico (CONACYT)*

Yes Yes

Taiwan (MOST)*

Yes Yes Period of 42 months

ineligible

Turkey (TUBITAK)*

Yes Yes

Singapore (NRF)

Yes Yes

Germany (DFG)

administrative registration

Yes Project duration 36 months (max.)

Ineligible

Austria (FWF)* administrative

registration Yes

Luxembourg (FNR)*

Yes Administrative

registration Ineligible

Switzerland (FNS)*

administrative registration

Yes Ineligible

* Procedures concerning collaboration between ANR and foreign agencies will be confirmed at the time of

publication of the Generic Call for Proposals

B.5.3. Evaluation of full proposals

Evaluation in the second stage of the selection process, may involve external peer reviewers

and panel members who either took part or did not take part in the first stage of the selection

process.

Three additional sub-criteria are used in stage 2 (see below). As in stage 1, the criterion on

"quality and scientific aims” will be a discriminating factor (an "A" rating is required).

The following evaluation chart is used by both external peer reviewers and panel members.


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Table 7: Full proposal evaluation criteria according to the funding instrument

PRCI PRCE PRC JCJC

Criterion 1: Quality and scientific aims (a discriminating criterion: an A rating is required)

▪ Clarity of research objectives and hypotheses

▪ Novelty, originality, improvement to the state of the art

▪ Feasibility especially as regards methods and scientific risk management

Criterion 2: Organisation of the project and the means implemented

▪ Skills, expertise and involvement of the scientific coordinator and the partners

▪ Quality and complementarity of the consortium, quality of the collaboration ▪ Quality and potential of the JCJC and his/her team

▪ Appropriateness of means implemented and requested to the objectives set

Criterion 3: Impact and consequences of the project

▪ The project's capacity to address the research issues identified in the Work Programme

▪ Potential impact in scientific, economic, social or cultural areas.

▪ Balance between the scientific contributions of the respective partners in each country and the added value/benefit for France of European or international cooperation

▪ Action of technology and innovation transfer with regard to the social and economic world

▪ Strategy for disseminating and exploiting the results

▪ The project's capacity to promote the development of a topic or the young researcher's own team

Once again, all the criteria and sub-criteria present a level of detail adapted to the content and

size of the scientific document in the full proposal. The sub-criteria are a guide, for the applicant

in compiling their file and for the assessor in evaluating the proposal.

External peer reviewers’ assessment

The aim is for each full proposal to be evaluated by at least two external peer reviewers

(individuals not involved in scientific evaluation panel meetings).

The external peer reviewer operate individually and in total confidentiality, without any

exchanges with third parties. The only elements at their disposal are the materials in

the pre-proposal and the full proposal as submitted by the scientific coordinator by the closing

date of the second submission stage.

The external peer reviewer complete an individual appraisal report in which a comment is given

for each evaluation criteria (no marks are given).

Rebuttal stage

Reports by external peer reviewers will systematically be sent to the scientific coordinator of

each proposal at the end of May 2018 (an e-mail indicating the exact date will be sent to all

scientific coordinators concerned).


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The scientific coordinator will then have seven days to respond to these reports, if he/she

wishes, via an online interface, based on a format indicated when ANR sends out the invitation.

The coordinator's response will be passed on to members of the scientific panel that studied

the proposal. It will also be passed onto the external peer reviewers.

Evaluation by the scientific evaluation panel members

Full proposals are also evaluated by two scientific evaluation panel members. CES members

evaluate individual proposals based on the elements submitted by the coordinator. They take

account of external peer reviewers reports and any response made by the scientific coordinator

to the external peer reviewers as well. External peer reviewers’ reports can thus be seen in

conjunction with this response, together with the comprehensive view that CES members have

over the proposals assessed within their committee (a view that external peer reviewers do not

have).

Ranking

Scientific evaluation panels meet up following the drafting of individual evaluations. A

rapporteur and a reader are assigned previously. A proposal-by-proposal collegial discussion

shall take place and proposals will be ranked per funding instrument.

One of the CES members (the rapporteur) shall prepare a final evaluation report, taking into

account his/her own opinion, the evaluation of the other member (the reader), external peer

reviewers reports, possible feedback to experts submitted by the scientific coordinator as well

as discussions held in CES meetings reflecting the consensus reached in the scientific

evaluation panel.

Results

The decision of whether or not to select a project is made by ANR based on rankings

established by scientific evaluation panels and budgetary capacity dedicated to the Generic

Call for Proposals.

ANR posts the list of selected projects on its website.

ANR informs all scientific coordinators of their proposal’s selection or rejection and transmits

the final evaluation report justifying the decision.

Funding of selected proposals

Those proposals selected will be funded by ANR, on condition that a grant agreement is signed

by each of the partners benefiting from a grant.

The procedures for the attribution of ANR grants are set out in the ANR funding allocation

procedures. Partners are invited to read this document carefully in order to build their projects

in compliance with the provisions therein in particular with respect to budget aspects.




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C. Special mechanisms

C.1. Very large research infrastructures (TGIR)

Projects relying on the resources from very large research infrastructures (TGIR) are invited

to make that clear from the time they submit their pre-proposal. An approach independent of

the submission of the proposal to the ANR must be undertaken to ensure such resources are

obtained if they condition the smooth running of the project. This may be justified in the context

of the submission of the full proposal.

C.2. Competitiveness clusters 33

Projects wishing to benefit from the label of one or more competitiveness clusters must declare

this in the first phase of the selection process.34 The scientific coordinator must have

previously obtained the consent of other partners (including foreigners, when appropriate) in

the pre-proposal (PRC and PRCE).

By selecting a competitiveness cluster on the pre-proposal submission site, project partners

agree that the information present in the pre-proposal and the full proposal be made available

to the competitiveness clusters they solicit. If a proposal successfully obtains a label from a

competitiveness cluster, information on the monitoring of the project will also be provided to

the competitiveness clusters.

Therefore, partners are invited to contact the competitiveness clusters concerned as soon as

possible to be informed of their commitments if these clusters decide to support them (including

possible membership of the cluster, transmission of mid-term and final project reports).

Competitiveness clusters may inform ANR of any projects, among the proposals seeking their

label, that are relevant to the clusters’ road map and geographical zoning. This notification

shall be made via a dedicated platform available to competitiveness clusters.

The label itself may or may not be awarded by the competitiveness clusters, on the basis of

elements presented in full proposals, no later than ten days35 after the closure of the full

proposal submission site.

Information on the competitiveness clusters' label is brought to the attention of scientific

evaluation panel members (CES) and considered as part of the proposal submitted.

33 International collaborative research projects (PRCI) are not concerned by this process.

34 The labelling process cannot be requested in the second stage.

35 The date will be specified at the beginning of 2018.


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C.3. French co-funding

ANR enters into partnerships with other funders (§ A.3 of Work Programme 2018).

The Generic Call for Proposal's list of co-funders (see table below) will be updated on the ANR

website’s Generic Call for Proposals page.

Co-funding means that the grant attributed to the project associates a financial contribution

from ANR and a co-funder partner showing interest for the research work in question.

Co-funding does not grant the co-funding organisation any intellectual property rights. For

those projects selected, co-funding can be an additional opportunity to disseminate and

highlight results (springboard to other funding opportunities, contact with users, etc.). This is

why in certain cases, representatives of co-funding organisations are given access to specific

information concerning projects by means of invitations to kick-off meetings, progress and

closing reviews as well as mid-term and final project reports. When applicable, these particular

obligations are mentioned in a co-funding-specific annex on the Call for Proposals page and

in the grant agreements.

Table 8: Partnerships and co-funding under the Generic Call for Proposals 201836

Partner Main themes that may be covered by co-

funding Scientific fields concerned

CNSA

National Solidarity Fund for

Autonomy

Themes related to ageing, autonomy and quality

of life

"Life, Health and Well-

being" and "Innovative,

inclusive and adaptive

societies"

DGA

Defence Procurement Agency

Civil and military dual-interest themes (energy,

global security and cybersecurity, etc.)

"Clean, secure and efficient

energy", "Industrial

renewal", "Information and

communication society" and

"Freedom and security of

Europe, its citizens and its

residents"

DGOS

General Directorate for Care

Provision

Translational health research (synergy between

fundamental research and clinical research)

"Life, Health and Well-

being"

MAA

Ministry of agriculture and

food

Agri-ecological plan for France, including

Ecophyto

"Food security and

demographic challenges"

36 All partnerships and co-funding arrangements may be modified or completed. Applicants are invited to consult ANR's website before submitting any proposals.


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Partner Main themes that may be covered by co-

funding Scientific fields concerned

APIS-GENE Overall efficiency in the breeding of ruminants

(EGER)

"Food security and

demographic challenges"

SGDSN

General Secretariat for

Defence and National

Security

Global security and cybersecurity

“Freedom and security of

Europe, its citizens and its

residents”

C.4. Scientific publications and research data

Through its participation in the European Research Area, ANR reasserts its commitment to

developing Open Access to the results of research financed by public funds. The

dissemination, sharing and long-term archiving of scientific publications related to projects

funded by ANR helps enhance the visibility and attractiveness of French research.

As a signatory to the "Partnership agreement to foster open archives and the HAL (Hyper

Articles on Line) shared platform", 37ANR draws on article 30 of the law "For a Digital Republic" 38and recommends that the full texts of all publications resulting from the projects it funds

should be posted in the open archives, directly in HAL or via a local institutional archive.39

Concerning research data, ANR does not impose a Data Management Plan (DMP) in the

Generic Call for Proposals 2018. However, applicants should understand the importance of

research data when setting up projects and throughout the whole process.

For more detailed information on the Optimised Sharing and Interoperability of Research Data,

applicants should refer to the portal OPIDoR launched by INIST at the beginning of October

2017.

37 Law no. 2016-1321 of 7 October 2016, For a Digital Republic.

38 Partnership agreement to foster open archives and the HAL (Hyper Articles on Line) shared platform" – 2 April 2013

39 At least the author-produced manuscript accepted for publication (AAM).

http://www.inist.fr/?Portail-OPIDoR

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