In total, 15 projects out of 35 submitted were selected for support in the first round of the ExcellenceS call for projects, as announced on 30 November 2021, by Frédérique Vidal, the French Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and Guillaume Boudy, Secretary General for Investment.

The ExcellenceS initiative was introduced earlier this year, with the aim to recognize and reward excellence in all its forms and to support French higher education and research institutions that carry out ambitious transformation projects on their campuses. The first application round showcased the multiple forms of excellence emerging in French institutions and region. The programme will equip higher education and research with concrete tools to establish themselves as future innovation hubs and locomotives of socioeconomic transformations.

The ExcellenceS programme will be supported through the ‘4e Programme d'investissements d'avenir’ (PIA4), with the overall budget of EUR 800 million, and will be implemented through three application rounds enabling applicants to further develop their projects.

More information

French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation