Strengthening partnerships with universities -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Future. As a founding member of Idex, to which its research units Excellence,’ adds Jean-Noël Verpeaux. ‘CNRS will nevertheless help bring considerable contribution, CNRS participates in the programs’ them to identify their strengths and integrate the national networks governance. that make up the new research and higher education map.’ The Investments for the Future scheme goes alongside the drafting of site agreements. ‘The analysis carried out by universities as part of 1. Initiative of Excellence. the program helped us develop site agreements more quickly,’ notes 2. Laboratory of Excellence. 3. Equipment of Excellence. Jean-Noël Verpeaux. For instance, the Bordeaux Idex—organized 4. University-Hospital Institute. around eight Labex projects matching its key areas of research— 5. Technological Research Institute. contributed to our discussions on the scientific section of the site 6. Institute of Excellence for Low-carbon Energy. agreement. CNRS also supports projects outside the Idex, provided 7. Technology Transfer Company (SATT). that they are scientifically relevant, add to the site’s momentum, and are in line with our strategic orientations. While large sites do not have the Idex label, the work that went into their applications and the responses received to other tenders, notably the Labex, will help pinpoint the scientific sectors that give the site its identity and make it attractive. ‘Not all universities wish to become Initiatives of Investments for the Future: a vital support ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joëlle Raguideau, Director of the Mission for the Monitoring of and Relations with CNRS Regional Offices and Institutes, provides an insight into CNRS’s support to the Investments for the Future program. How does CNRS participate in the Investments for the Future organized; how projects would be modeled in management tools; and program? what types of contracts would apply. We sought to provide simple, From the scientific teams to the governance of the organization, consistent answers and asked the French National Research Agency CNRS is deeply involved in all calls for proposals, including Labex, (ANR) for help when necessary. On several occasions, we sought Equipex, IRT, IEED, Cohortes, and IHU. This has required extensive arbitration from the Management Committee to ensure that project work on a very tight schedule and entirely new terms. CNRS support was in line with our organization’s strategic vision. The mobilized its resources to assist project heads. A working group President of CNRS was personally involved in preparing applications representing all the entities—institutes, regional offices, and service and in the Idex hearings selection process. offices—analyzed the calls for proposals and defined processes for the various phases. The objective was to harmonize and consolidate Does this support come to an end once tenders are submitted? Investments for the Future projects. This involved developing No, on the contrary. Once an application is selected, many project proposals as well as financial and budget packages; providing heads rely on their regional offices to manage the program. CNRS support; submitting proposals; managing negotiations; drafting will also help with the governance of the Initiatives of Excellence, contracts; and administering the projects. and take part in key strategic choices. Finally, through their hands- on work on excellence projects, CNRS’s research units are the What type of support did you provide? organization’s main contribution to the Investments for the Future There were many requests so we had to decide how CNRS would be program. involved; how programs concerning several regional offices would be 55 2011 A year at CNRS
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