Education and Training in France

(source: European Union)

1. GENERAL AIM OF THE TMR PROGRAMME

Development of the human resources engaged in research and technological development (RTD) is a key condition for renewed growth and stronger competitiveness. Training through research and the transnational mobility of young researchers help to encourage creativeness and innovation.

In this context, activities under the training and mobility of researchers programme are aimed at boosting the competitiveness of European industry and improving quality of life. They are designed to build the necessary scientific and technical foundations for sustainable development and environmental protection and to underpin Community action in the fields of health, agriculture, fisheries and transport.

Areas covered:

The programme covers activities in all areas of the exact, natural, economic and management sciences and the social and human sciences which contribute to the achievement of Community policy objectives.

It caters primarily for young researchers (under 35 years of age) wishing to undergo training through research at doctoral and especially post-doctoral level in an EU country other than their own.

2. PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS

The following four activities are developed under the programme and are geared particularly to young European scientists:

Individual grants (Marie Curie grants):

To be eligible for a doctoral grant (awarded for a maximum of three years), applicants must hold a qualification enabling them to begin doctoral work immediately in the host country.

To be eligible for a post-doctoral grant (awarded for a maximum of two years), applicants must hold a doctorate or have four years' experience of research at postgraduate level.

Research networks:

Research networks comprise between five and ten high-level European research teams working together on a major research project. The networks are intended to promote training through research, cooperation and exchanges of scientists between research centres in Member States and associated countries, thereby offering extensive opportunities for integrating into a research team temporarily young researchers from another Member State or associated country.

Access to large-scale facilities:

Researchers from other Member States or associated countries are temporarily assigned to research centres with unique facilities and can thus take part in high-calibre scientific projects.

Summer schools, Euroconferences and practical courses:

Summer schools, Euroconferences and practical courses are organized with a view to promoting scientific cooperation and making a significant contribution to the training of young researchers by enabling them to take part in high-level scientific meetings.

3. PROCEDURE FOR TAKING PART IN THE PROGRAMME

Individual grants (Marie Curie grants):

Each selection procedure begins with publication of a call for proposals in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Financing proposals are selected by the Community on the basis of their scientific calibre, having due regard to the following:

• the applicant's curriculum vitae and experience or research abilities;
• the scientific/technological interest, calibre and feasibility of the RTD project jointly proposed by the host laboratory and the applicant;
• the qualities and scientific/technological skills and training capacity of the host institution.

Research networks:

Selection procedures begin with publication of a call for proposals in the Official Journal.

A list of networks funded by the Community which may be able to offer temporary research posts to researchers from other countries can be accessed on the Internet at the following address:

http://www.cordis.lu/tmr/home.html

Interested researchers are encouraged to contact their prospective host laboratory direct.

Access to large-scale facilities:

Selection procedures begin with a call for proposals which is published in the Official Journal, as is a list of the facilities subsequently selected. Researchers wishing to use one of these facilities must contact the person in charge of the facility direct.

Euroconferences, summer schools and practical courses:

Selection procedures begin with a call for proposals which is published in the Official Journal, as is a list of the Euroconferences, summer schools and practical courses subsequently selected. Those wishing to attend must apply to the organizers of the events in which they are interested.

Information:

The EuropeanCommission's Directorate-GeneralXII publishes a newsletter, 'TMR News', which contains all the available information on the programme. The newsletter, together with a great deal of other relevant information, is available on the Internet via the Cordis server on WWW at the following address:

http://www.cordis.lu/tmr/home.html

Information packs on the four activities, application forms and the closing dates for applications can be obtained on that site.

If you have any difficulty, please contact the Cordis help desk on:

Tel: +352 34 98 12 40

Fax: +352 34 98 12 48

e-Mail: helpdesk@cordis.lu

4. STATUS OF MARIE CURIE GRANT HOLDERS

Under the rules in force in most of the Member States and associated countries, holders of post-doctoral Marie Curie grants are covered by a fixed-term employment contract with their host institution. The host institution ensures that their net income, after deduction of tax and social security contributions, is equivalent to the remuneration received by national researchers at the corresponding grade in the host country.

Holders of doctoral grants may in certain countries be treated as students and as such may not be required to pay social security contributions.

Marie Curie grant holders all receive a substantial monthly expatriation allowance to offset the extra costs incurred through living in another country and are refunded their travelling expenses (return fare).

For further details of the contractual relationship between Marie Curie grant holders and their host institutions, please get in touch with the national contact points listed below.

N.B. The TMR programme, along with the other Community RTD programmes under the Fourth RTD Framework Programme (1995-98) is now reaching the end of its life. In other words, the TMR programme - and other RTD programmes - has used up all its resources and will be issuing no further calls for proposals in 1998.

The Fifth RTD Framework Programme (1999-2002) is now the subject of a Council and Parliament codecision procedure, on completion of which a series of RTD programmes will be adopted by the Council, including a programme for "enhancing human research potential", which will take over from the TMR programme, more especially in terms of awarding the Marie Curie grants.

Adoption by the Council is expected for the end of 1998, whereupon a call for proposals will be issued.

5. USEFUL ADDRESSES

• For general information on TMR activities:
  Fax: +32 2 296 32 70 
  E-mail: tmr-info@dg12.cec.be
• For details of Marie Curie grants:
  Tel. No: +32 2 295 08 43 Fax: +32 2 296 21 33 
  E-mail: tmr-grants@dg12.cec.be
• Research posts available in networks:
  Tel. No: +32 2 295 76 99 Fax: +32 2 296 21 36 
  E-mail: tmr-networks@dg12.cec.be
• Access to large-scale facilities:
  Fax: +32 2 296 21 36 
  E-mail: tmr-lsf@dg12.cec.be
• Euroconferences, summer schools and practical courses:
  Tel. No: +32 2 296 02 54 Fax: +32 2 296 69 95 
  E-mail: tmr-am@dg12.cec.be

There are national TMR contact points which you can call upon for assistance in solving any problems that may arise in your relations with host institutions or Commission departments.

NATIONAL CONTACT POINTS

FRANCE

• For Marie Curie grants:
  Charlotte SUMIDA 
  CNRS/Délégation Régionale Ile de France Secteur Sud 
  Tel. No: +33 69 82 39 34 Fax: +33 69 82 39 36
• For networks:
  Colette JOFFRIN 
  Ministère de l'Education Nationale, de l'Enseignement Sup. et de la Recherche 
  Tel. No: +33 46 34 32 93 Fax: +33 46 34 34 72
• For Euroconferences:
  Robert PICK 
  Université Pierre et Marie Curie 
  Tel. No: +33 44 27 38 85 Fax: +33 44 27 38 32

Note: This Citizens First Factsheet is intended to provide guidance on EU law for information purposes only. It has been prepared by the European Commission with the help of national authorities and contains information on the national implementation of EU law. You are advised that the texts of Community legal instruments should be relied upon in case of doubt concerning the extent of a right or obligation arising from EU law.