[APR 2024] Frequently asked questions
[APR 2024] Consult the frequently asked questions
Questions on funding rules
Questions about international partnerships
Questions about eligible themes
Details of CESAB projects
Questions on funding rules
The funding rules in appendix 3 apply to each of the partners and not just to the project as a whole. The excel file that will be sent to you to fill in your budget information includes this condition.
Is it possible to carry out a research project between public/private establishments and public/private project owners without necessarily including a university partner?
Yes
What are the financial rules for EPICs? What are the eligible costs for EPICS, an intermediary structure between private and public bodies? Are the costs of permanent staff eligible?
This call for proposals is open to all French research teams, regardless of the institution to which they belong or their status (public or private).
For the sake of simplicity, we have chosen not to distinguish between EPICs and other public institutions. The rules that apply are therefore those set out in appendix 3 for public institutions. In particular, permanent staff costs are not eligible for EPICs.
What are the eligibility conditions for companies?
See appendix 3. The grant rate depends on having an economic activity within the scope of the project (regardless of public or private status: 80%, minimum rule, etc). For eligible expenditure: ≠ between pbc and private status: eligible staff costs only for private status.
Funding rates and rules apply partner by partner (and not to the project as a whole).
Are grants subject to minimis?
If the aid is state aid (i.e. the company carries out an economic activity within the scope of the project), there are several aid schemes that are compatible with the European internal market. The de minimis regulation is one of them, but there are others. Please consult the details in appendix 3 of the text of the call for research projects.
Does the project have to be led by a university lab?
No, research skills are required, but the project can be led by a variety of people.
Cerema support
If Cerema is part of a project, the staff time involved will be managed specifically by MTECT.
Can the research project be used to fund a thesis which will be part of another research project already funded?
A research project may include a thesis or a post-doctorate, but it cannot consist solely of a thesis (or a post-doctorate). De facto, the thesis must be integrated into a self-supporting project, possibly linked to another project funded elsewhere. This has already happened with the EFACILT project.
Questions about international partnerships
There must be a French team involved in the project (pilot or partner - see point 1.2 and appendix 2). To be a partner, the team must represent at least 10% of the total budget.
Incubator and exploratory projects are not open to non-French teams because the funding is too low. These projects must necessarily involve a single project leader with no co-beneficiary partners.
In the case of an international project involving foreign research labs, does the minimum French team required have to come from a research lab or can it be attached to a private company?
The French partner does not have to be a research laboratory. A private company is eligible.
In the case of an international team, can the leader be foreign? / Is it possible to apply as an African research organisation? / It can be a research centre outside France to apply for these projects or need a consortium with a French institution?
YES - see page 7 of the call and appendix 2
Extract from article 1.2 :
This call for proposals is open to all French research teams, regardless of the institution to which they belong or their status (public or private). They may be associated with international research teams.
International teams may submit proposals under the following conditions:
- at least one French research team is involved ;
- they have at least one research site in France;
- They must accept the OFB's or FRB's subsidy terms and conditions.
To date, more than half of the active ITTECOP projects are European or international consortia.
However, care must be taken to control the costs of any travel expenses.
Previous example: The interconnect project was led by the Eifer Institute in Karlsruhe in cooperation with ENGEES in Strasbourg. Please note: the language used for interim and final reports and for project monitoring by the administrative departments is French. Other languages may be used within each project.
Questions about eligible themes
Can a research project focus on a particular type of infrastructure (e.g. energy)?
As specified in appendix 2, the research project must involve several types of infrastructure, but it could be, for example, power lines and solar panels, which are in the energy category. However, a project focusing solely on solar panels is not eligible.
One of the major challenges of the call for proposals is to ensure that the research undertaken can benefit different types of infrastructure, and that a dialogue and reflection on this issue is initiated.
Are telephone masts eligible in terms of infrastructure under this call for proposals?
No
cf part2.1 The infrastructures targeted by this RPA are: road, cycle and motorway networks, railways and inland waterways, cable transport, electricity and gas networks, renewable energy production infrastructures (with a possible comparison with conventional energy infrastructure issues) and territorial interfaces (river or sea ports, stations, airports). The rights of way of these infrastructures are included in the scope of this RPA, and are even particularly problematic for research on these subjects.
Is aquatic biodiversity an entry point, particularly with regard to the effects of infrastructure?
Yes, absolutely (e.g. dams, waterways). The marine environment is not, but the coastal environment remains eligible, particularly for port and airport infrastructures. On the other hand, offshore wind farms are not a priori eligible.
Is the marine environment an entry point?
The programme remains on land, but coastal infrastructures are accepted.
On SMPs
SMPs are not required at the proposal stage, but a first version will be produced after 6 months.
Details of CESAB projects
Positioning is slightly different from that of ITTECOP, which allows international consortia to be financed. As a result, application forms must be submitted in English. The only nationality requirement is that one of the co-sponsors must belong to a French research organisation.
Support by a PhD student who will be recruited to accompany the teams.
Type of project: synthesis of existing data and knowledge. No field studies or experiments. It is above all a question of networking.