ATIP-Avenir Program

Established as part of a partnership between Inserm and CNRS, each year the ATIP-Avenir program facilitates the creation of research teams in the fields of life sciences and health for approximately twenty young researchers. To date, this program has provided support to over 400 promising scientists.

Created in 1990 and 2000 respectively, and subsequently merged in 2009, the CNRS Institute of Biological Sciences ATIP program and the Inserm Avenir program collaborate to assist young researchers in forming independent research teams in the fields of life sciences and health. This program also aims to promote the mobility of researchers and attract talented individuals to French research laboratories.


2024 campaign

  • Launch of the call for applications: October 12, 2023
  • Deadline for the submission of applications: November 16, 2023
  • More informations on Eva

Who can apply?

The ATIP-Avenir program is open to researchers of any nationality who have successfully completed their Ph.D. dissertation (or equivalent diploma) between 2 and 8 years ago. Exceptions can be granted for individuals who have taken maternity leave (12 months per child), paternity leave, or military service.

The program is open to all researchers or teacher-researchers, regardless of their affiliation (public scientific and technical research establishment (EPST), university, hospital, veterinary school, etc.) as well as non-tenured researchers. The program strongly encourages applications from Doctors of Medicine/Pharmacy.

Successful applicants are required to conduct their projects within a structure in which he/she has not been working for more than 18 months and will not find any prior mentors from their PhD and/or post doctorate. Exceptions can be granted to applicants from university hospitals. Candidates have the option to submit their proposal without having identified a host laboratory at the time of application.

Candidates who have received grants similar to the ATIP-Avenir program (e.g. ANR JCJC or ERC programs to manage a research group) are not eligible. While ATIP-Avenir laureates can apply to similar programs, they cannot combine funding from programs similar to ATIP-Avenir. Applicants are limited to applying for a maximum of two different ATIP-Avenir calls.

Projects must relate to Life sciences or Health and must comply to the ethical guidelines established by Inserm and CNRS.

What funding is allocated?

ATIP-Avenir funding is allocated for a period of 5 years. The funding allocated includes:

  • Annual grant of € 60,000
  • Two-year salary for a postdoctoral researcher or an engineer.
  • Five-year salary for non-tenured laureates.

A mid-term report must be provided.

The host laboratory will provide a dedicated research area of approximately 50m², with infrastructures costs covered by the host lab. Additionally, the team will have access to the local technological facilities. Candidates have the option to submit their proposal without having identified a host laboratory at the time of application.

Partners are likely to co-fund projects in their fields: ANRS-MIE (Agence nationale de recherches sur le sida et les hépatites virales – Maladies Infectieuses Emergentes), AFM-Téléthon (Association française contre les myopathies), ARC (Fondation pour la recherche sur le cancer), FINOVI (Fondation innovations en infectiologie), la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller, LNCC (Ligue nationale contre le cancer), Stratégie décennale de lutte contre les cancers 2021–2030, Idex et I‑SITE .

How are applicants selected?

Two rounds of selection are applied: initial shortlisting will take place in April 2024 and interviews of the selected applicants in May 2024. CNRS and Inserm will finalize the list of laureates in early July 2024. Applications will be assessed by specialized international scientific committees composed of experts in the relevant fields.

Additional information