Give young researchers the chance to set up and run a team, promote mobility and attract young, exceptionally talented team leaders to laboratories.
Since they were set up, both these programs (Atip at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Avenir at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm)) have enabled more than 406 researchers (234 for the CNRS, 172 for Inserm) to form their own research team in the fields of life and health sciences.
In 2009, on the basis of a partnership, Inserm and the CNRS combined their two programs into one: ATIP-Avenir
The program has been designed for young researchers, with no nationality restrictions, who have got their science thesis (or PhD) within the last 10 years at the most, irrespective of their home organization (public science and technology institution, university, hospital, veterinary school, etc.) and whether or not they hold a permanent position. The program is also open to physicians interested in research.
Access the call for proposals and submit your application online
The laboratory that will host the Atip-Avenir team must provide 50 sq.m. of premises and access to all of the laboratory's facilities.
Where there is no host laboratory, applicants may submit their applications and, at the same time, contact Inserm or the CNRS who will help them to identify a suitable site for their project.
Inserm's database on research (Bir)
Directory of CNRS laboratories
Through an annual call for proposals, applicants are selected in two stages:
- application-based preselection
- followed by an interview for preselected applicants
The lists of selected applicants and host structures are drawn up jointly by the Inserm and CNRS management teams.
The projects are evaluated by an international scientific committee made up of 8 sub-committees.
"I have been delighted to participate in the evaluation of young scientists who apply for their first independent research post. This is perhaps the most critical stage in the career of a young scientist. Until recently, this has been a real “bottle-neck” with insufficient posts for talented and promising candidates. The admirable Atip-Avenir program of CNRS/Inserm goes a long way to improve the situation in France, with stringent and strictly objective evaluations by external experts of the young scientists. A notable sign of success of the Atip-Avenir program is that it is now being followed by related research organizations in other European countries."
Christian Boitard, Director of the thematic multi-organization institute Physiopathology, Metabolism, Nutrition (PMN)
André Le Bivic, CNRS Research Director
© Aviesan
Jean-Marc Egly, Inserm Research Director, ex Director ATIP-Avenir Programme
© Aviesan
French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS): http://www.anrs.fr/
French Muscular Dystrophy Association (AFM): http://www.afm-telethon.fr/
French Association for Research on Cancer (ARC): http://www.arc-cancer.net/
Agro-Industrie Recherches et Développements (ARD): http://www.a-rd.fr/
French Alliance for Research and Innovation in Health Industries (ARIIS): http://www.ariis.fr/
French Directorate-General for Armament (DGA): http://www.defense.gouv.fr/dga/
French Directorate-General for Healthcare Services (DGOS): http://www.travail-solidarite.gouv.fr/le-ministere,149/presentation-et-organigramme,294/le-ministre-du-travail-de-la,747/direction-de-l-hospitalisation-et,5620.html
French Blood Agency (EFS): http://www.dondusang.net/afficherAccueil.do
Bettencourt-Schueller Foundation: http://www.fondationbs.org/
French National Cancer Institute (INCa): http://www.e-cancer.fr/
Pierre Fabre Laboratories: http://www.pierre-fabre.com/homepage/0,4157,2072_0_0_fr_FR_0,00.html?vid=11977375
French National Cancer League (LNCC): http://www.ligue-cancer.net/#
French Interdepartmental Mission for the Fight against Drugs and Drug Addiction (MILDT): http://www.drogues.gouv.fr/
Sanofi-Aventis: http://www.sanofi-aventis.fr/l/fr/fr/index.jsp
Which breaks down into €60,000 worth of operating expenses per year
+ a two-year fixed-term contract for a post-doctoral student
+ the selected applicant's salary, if s/he does not hold a permanent position (three-year fixed-term contract)
The selected applicant can receive additional aid through a partnership.
The ATIP-Avenir funding may be extended for an extra two years after evaluation.
Having the ATIP-Avenir program - a recognized benchmark for excellence - under your belt is a magnet for other types of funding.
95% of selected applicants who did not hold a permanent position have since obtained one
See the list of selected applicants (in French):
2015 selected applicants (11.2 ko)
2014 selected applicants (20.4 ko)
2012 selected applicants (17.5 ko)
2010 selected applicants (26.6 ko)
2009 selected applicants (25.1 ko)