Specific cooperation tools are a priority
European projects are an ideal vector to enhance the competitiveness and recognition of French humanities and social sciences research. CNRS Humanities & Social Sciences supports the development of tools for international collaborative projects and works on strengthening its presence on European programme committees thus clearly affirming its aim to increase its teams' participation in European research projects.
European and international cooperation instruments
The CNRS has developed specific cooperation instruments to promote and structure international exchanges between researchers and laboratories aimed at increasing the institutional visibility of strategic international cooperation projects. These instruments are: international emerging actions (IEAs), international research projects (IRPs), international research networks (IRNs) and international research laboratories (IRLs).
Thanks to these four complementary tools, the INSHS has progressively built up a structured international network of researchers (figures from 2011).
- 36 IRNs
- 13 IRPs
- 22 IEAs
- 31 IRLs
At the heart of European research programmes
The CNRS Humanities & Social Sciences's Network of European and International Correspondents and internal communication campaigns keep the Institute's researchers constantly informed about Horizon Europe funding programmes' starting dates and schedules. This programme has a €95.5 billion budget for the 2021-2027 period and is structured around three founding pillars –"Excellent Science" (Pillar 1), " "Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness" (Pillar 2) and "Innovative Europe" (Pillar 3).
Help with setting up projects
Structures exist to enable researchers to find the relevant programme according to the nature of their research and network and to help them set projects up.
These structuresprovide support at three levels and researchers need to contact them to qualify for such support at each stage of a project:
- at the institutional level: The Institute's Europe and International pole works on helping researchers determine an appropriate strategy for their participation in the CNRS's structuring initiatives and in European Union programmes;
- at the regional level: The regional delegations' Partnership and Technology Transfer Services (SPVs) are the prime contact resources for laboratories and provide researchers with administrative and technical support.
- at the national level: A network of National Contact Points (NCPs) is dedicated to each Horizon Europe programme. These National Contact Points inform and raise awareness among researchers about Horizon Europe funding opportunities, assist, advise and train them on how the programme works and refer them to other sources of funding (European and national) if necessary.
Specific CNRS and InSHS support
- CNRS Humanities & Social Sciences Guide for ERC Applicants (European Research Council) which can be downloaded using the link below.
- CNRS Humanities & Social Sciences workshops providing writing support for ERC projects (European Research Council).
- Applying for financial support from CNRS Humanities & Social Sciences to set up a European project. The relevant document can be downloaded using the link below.
- Requesting the assistance of a CNRS European Projects Engineer (IPE) for the administrative side of a European project.