Grants at hand for young researchers
(B2) Obtaining funding for research with a strategic purpose is now possible. A certain amount of funding has been put in place by the (French) Ministry of Defence. How to benefit from a scholarship and under what conditions?... B2 tells you (almost) everything.
The 2013 White Paper indicated the need to strengthen the " forward thinking (1). The creation of a Higher Education Pact endowed with 2,5 million euros per year for the academic world and financed by the DGRIS (the Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy - formerly DAS) has materialized this objective around two key words: "Know" and "Anticipate". Intended to build a bridge between the world of defense and the academic world, this pact aims to facilitate the development and regeneration of the pool of French researchers on issues related to defense and security.
The “ambassador” program: next campaign in early 2018
1° What does it fund? A 12-month stay abroad (outside areas deemed at risk by the Ministry of Defence).
2° To whom is it addressed? To post-docs.
- French or nationals of a member country of the European Union, having successfully defended their thesis in a French university (with or without joint supervision, French or foreign) or in a foreign university with a French joint supervision, during the last five years at the latest ;
- engaged in a research project on security and defense issues regardless of the academic discipline (geography, economics, political science, law, etc.).
3° What are the methods of implementation? The candidate (attached to a French university laboratory) proposes a research project argued and justified by the scientific interest (feasibility with the French laboratory) and a host research center abroad which validates the project. The French university laboratory receives an allowance to pay the post-doc for 12 months for a minimum monthly net remuneration of €2300.
4° How many allowances are funded? Maximum two per year.
The “innovation” program: next campaign open in March 2018
1° What does it finance? A three-year thesis on security and defense issues, whatever the university discipline in the humanities and social sciences (geography, economics, political science, law, etc.) and involving scientific risk-taking, either in terms of methodological (use or experimentation of innovative scientific methods, from different human and social sciences, or even borrowed from so-called hard sciences), or on the thematic level (theme of new reflection in the disciplinary field concerned, originality of the scientific prism chosen, renewal of scientific reflection in the field under consideration).
2° To whom is it addressed? French doctoral students or nationals of a member state of the European Union enrolled in a French university (with or without joint supervision, French or foreign) or in a foreign university with a French joint supervision. Preference will be given to students in 1e thesis year.
3° What are the methods of implementation? The French university laboratory receives an allowance to pay the doctoral student for 3 years for a minimum net monthly salary of €1550.
4° How many scholarships are funded? Maximum three per year.
The “thematic” program: next campaign open in March 2018
1° What does it finance? A three-year thesis on security and defense issues, regardless of the university discipline (geography, economics, political science, law, etc.), relating to one of the specific themes, called to change each year (2 ).
2° To whom is it addressed? French doctoral students or nationals of a member state of the European Union enrolled in a French university (with or without joint supervision, French or foreign) or in a foreign university with a French joint supervision. Preference will be given to students in 1e thesis year.
3° What are the methods of implementation? The French university laboratory receives an allowance to pay the doctoral student for 3 years for a minimum net monthly salary of €1550.
4° How many scholarships are funded? A maximum of six per year.
The "Mobility Assistance" program
1° What does it finance? Air or rail transport to present papers at national or international conferences or seminars (excluding additional costs: taxi, bus, metro, etc.).
2° To whom is it addressed? Young researchers in the human sciences attached to IRSEM.
3° What are the targeted fields of study? New conflicts, strategic thought and new concepts, armament and proliferation, European and transatlantic security, comparative regional security, defense and society, legal defense issues, history of defense and armament.
4° What are the terms? Submit your complete file at least two months before departure.
(Elena Barba)
Additional information: find all useful information and application files on the websites of the DGRIS or theIRSEM
The establishment of a "Center of Excellence" label
The Ministry has decided to select a few French higher education establishments and groups of establishments, based on various criteria (excellence and scientific innovation, impact and influence of the work, interdisciplinarity, professional integration). The objective is to support cutting-edge university research centers on strategy and defense issues so that they are recognized and become references at the international level.
These centers are selected in two phases. First, a phase of pre-selection (which started in 2017) to boost academic centers in the field of strategic studies by hiring young researchers. Second, the labeling via a budget of 300.000 euros per year for a renewable period of five years and allowing the creation of new teacher-researcher positions and the constitution of a high-level research team.
(1) The White Paper on Defense and National Security (LBDSN) had highlighted weaknesses — “ French strategic research suffers from an insufficient critical mass – and advocated a “ forward-looking approach of the State [supported] on an independent, multidisciplinary, original strategic reflection integrating university research”.
(2) For example, for the 2015-2016 academic year the following themes were selected: Russia, North Africa – Near and Middle East, Arctic, Sub-Saharan and Southern Africa, Central Asia, South-East Asia , BITD Russia, China, India, Cyber Defense, Nuclear Deterrence, Missile Defence, International Arms Market, Demography, Global Health Crises, Religious Issues, International Defense Prospects, BITD Economic Aggregates, Defense Policies .
