France’s action for research to fight Covid-19
Funding and calls for projects
Emergency funds: 50 million €
On 19 March, the President of the Republic announced the establishment of an emergency fund of 50 million euros to fight the epidemic and the reinvestment of 5 billion euros in research over the next ten years.
Press file (in French): https://cache.media.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/file/Covid-19/07/8/DP_5_milliards_d_euros_recherche_1269078.pdf
This fund covers various financing schemes.
REACTing: 8 millions €
The Alliance for Life and Health Sciences (Aviesan) has been mobilized by the government to accelerate the research on the virus and on the COVID-19 disease through the action of the REACTing consortium (REsearch and ACTion targeting emerging infectious diseases), coordinated by INSERM (the National Institute for Health and Medical Research).
With 8 million € support from the Ministry of Solidarity and Health and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI), 20 scientific initiatives were selected on 11 March by the REACTing scientific council. They cover topics as diverse as epidemic modelling, treatment research or prevention. Only one project will be carried out abroad, in Cambodia, by the local Pasteur Institute (whose French director is paid by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs for technical assistance).
More information (in French): https://www.inserm.fr/sites/default/files/2020-03/Aviesan_Reacting_CPCOVID19_110319.pdf
National Research Agency (ANR) initial budget of 3 million €
In addition to the actions carried out by the REACTing consortium, the ANR launched on 6 March 2020 the Flash Covid-19 call to mobilize the scientific communities on priorities identified by the World Health Organisation around 4 axes defined in coordination with REACTing and MESRI.
The total amount of the budget allocated and the number of projects selected will be defined at the end of the evaluation phase, expected in early April, and funding will be effective in the following days. The budget will therefore adapt to the needs of the scientific teams involved.
National Agency for HIV and Viral Hepatitis Research (ANRS): 4 million €
To support research on COVID-19 in resource-limited countries, the ANRS has launched a call for exceptional COVID-19 'South' projects starting Wednesday, April 1, 2020.
4 million € will be available for research projects led in resource-limited countries. The projects must be submitted by Monday 13 April evening.
Submitted projects must be submitted by at least one Southern-based research team associated with at least one French-based research team.
Ministry of Solidarity and Health: 4 million €
Call for clinical research projects on COVID-19 via the Innovarc-3 project repository platform, which identifies research projects that are particularly urgent to implement and whose impact could be crucial in the crisis management.
This call is in addition to the usual Ministry of Health research programs, and is open until April 6.