Europe and Research

Developing institutional research cooperation

In terms of scientific cooperation, Aix Marseille Université has confirmed its European dimension, which is the joint result of the initiatives of its research units and the institutional actions it carries out through the establishment of scientific partnerships for which it is responsible (bilateral agreements, research MoUs, consortiums, etc.) or structured arrangements with research organizations.

In the field of European institutional cooperation, amU is committed to better coordinating its actions with major national research organizations (CNRS, INSERM, IRD, etc.), with which it intends to pursue a more controlled site policy in identified regions, and a more coherent approach to international partners.

Active participation in European framework programs (Horizon Europe and European sectoral programs)

Aix Marseille Université teams are actively involved in European research and innovation framework programs. As part of the Horizon 2020 program, 118 projects have been accepted for nearly €71.55 million in grants, making amU the 1st French university in the "Health" program and the 2nd in terms of grants obtained.

In 2024, amU, in partnership with CNRS, Inserm and IRD, will breathe new life into its European policy by creating the Mission Europe pour la Recherche (MER). This "Guichet unique" (one-stop shop), staffed by around twenty people, is based on a shared operating model to better support researchers and teacher-researchers on the Aix Marseille site in all activities linked to European research and innovation projects.

By sharing skills and resources and acquiring new competencies, the Mission Europe pour la Recherche is able to provide units with better support for European projects, thereby increasing their participation in European calls for projects and improving success rates.

The Mission Europe pour la Recherche is structured into two main areas working in close collaboration:

• The Detection Pole is responsible for promoting European programs, informing teams, identifying calls adapted to the needs of units, detecting new projects and identifying project leaders.
• The Engineering Pole is involved in the project set-up, negotiation and implementation phases, interfacing with the management units and project sponsors.
  The financial management of projects remains the responsibility of the managing Trustee.

Support for ERC project submissions - from identifying candidates, to coaching them and helping them write their projects - has been the focus of a special initiative on the site since 2017, with the setting up of CERCle - the Aix-Marseille site ERC Club; bringing together players from the MER and the operational Europe units of CEA and Centrale Innovation.

Involvement in numerous European programs other than Horizon Europe

European funding is at the heart of the strategy to be deployed in laboratories to enable the development of ambitious research within amU.

Every year since 2014, the Direction de la Recherche et de la Valorisation has supported teaching researchers in their submissions for European projects (excluding H2020) and monitored all selected projects.