CALL FOR APPLICATIONS : INTERNATIONAL CHAIRS FOR NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

French universities and research institutions hold a particularly strong international position in biodiversity research. France is therefore ideally placed to take a major role in the development of Nature-based Solutions (NbS). To strengthen links with international research networks, the NbS-Chairs program proposes hosting visiting researchers from abroad . These collaborations will encourage knowledge exchange and the development of innovative research projects. The objective is to better structure French research on NbS while addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. The program promotes interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches through long-term stays of international visiting researchers. Visiting researchers will also contribute to teaching and educational innovation. They will be involved in Bachelor’s and Master’s programs as well as through specialized degrees and online learning tools. Finally, the program aims to strengthen international partnerships and support large-scale European and global projects.

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Selection procedure

 
A first call for letters of intent (phase I) will allow a first selection of projects, particularly in terms of their alignment with the scope of Nature-based Solutions and the PEPR SOLU-BIOD priorities, and, if already identified, with those of the proposed host institution.

The full call for applications (phase II) will then allow applicants pre-selected based on their letter of intent, to develop their project together with the host institution. This period should be used to develop a proposal detailing the implementation of an innovative and transformative project in the host lab and host university. The project may involve several research units, but only one will be identified as the principal host institution.

Only laureates selected in the first step (phase I) are invited to submit a full project in the second step (phase II) of selection.

The evaluation process will be organized by the Scientific Committee of the NbS-Chairs. If necessary, the evaluation committee may call upon the scientific committee of the PEPR.

 

Admissibility criteria

 

The electronic files must be submitted within the deadlines and in the required format.

The project must fit to the scope and criteria of the call for proposals.

The host institution must be an existing legal entity — i.e. an institution of higher education and research (universities / research bodies...).

Submissions that fail to satisfy the admissibility criteria at the time of initial selection will not be passed on to the Scientific Committee for evaluation and will not be eligible for funding under any circumstances.

Only projects that deal with at least one of the four main research areas of the PEPR SOLU-BIOD will be submitted to the experts.

Evaluation criteria

 

1/ SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE AND AMBITION OF THE RESEARCH AND PEDAGOGIC PROJECT

  • Relevance of the project in relation to the objectives of the PEPR SOLU-BIOD
  • Novelty, originality and quality of the proposal in relation to the state-of-the-art on nature-based solutions
  • Appropriateness of the methodology, feasibility
  • Contribution to education and training

2/ QUALIFICATIONS, COMPLEMENTARITY AND RELEVANCE OF THE APPLICANT AND HOST LABORATORY

  • Ability of the applicant to lead the proposed project
  • Quality of the host laboratory
  • Complementarity of the applicant and the host laboratory relative to the project objectives

3/ ORGANISATION AND RESOURCES USED

  • Adequacy between the proposed budget (including the budget being applied for in the proposal) and the stated objectives.
  • Identification and management of scientific risks.
  • Relevance of the project schedule
  • Availability of the necessary tools

4/ EXPECTED IMPACTS

  • Expected high-level scientific output and impact
  • Ambition for the improvement of French leadership in the field
  • Potential economic, social or cultural impact
  • Knowledge transfer to stakeholders: ability to translate research findings into actionable knowledge, including through explicit private partnerships
  • Collaborative projects beyond the mobility period (possible response to a European call for proposals, ERC, etc…)

Apply