Applications Invited for Aid-CIFRE-Défense theses Call

Funding is available over three years for doctoral students employed by companies to conduct their research in a range of areas that have been identified as priorities by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.

France’s Agence de l’Innovation de Défense (AID – Defence Innovation Agency) financially supports around 100 theses per year. Through these, the Agency aims to explore new scientific ideas and technologies of defence in order to identify and develop future strategic technologies with universities, research organisations, schools or companies.

The programme AID CIFRE-Défense financially subsidises companies that hire doctoral students who conduct research in areas related to national security in academic research laboratories.

Theses must focus on the following themes:

  • Biology, health and Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical (NRBC) risks
  • Chemistry and energy
  • Fluids and structures
  • Individuals and systems
  • Engineering information and robotics
  • Materials
  • Nanotechnologies, sensors and components
  • Acoustic waves and radio
  • Photonics
  • Humanities and social sciences
  • Cybersecurity

Further details regarding these themes are available on the Agency’s website.

To be eligible, the following criteria must be met:

  • Applicants must conduct their research in the priority themes that have been identified by the AID
  • Theses must be conducted in an academic research laboratory, located in France in a public teaching or research organisation/foundation and under HDR supervision
  • Companies must be located in France and must hire the doctoral student on a three-year fixed-term contract

To be eligible, applicants must be:

  • EU/UK/Swiss nationals
  • Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent or a diplôme d’ingénieur (engineer diploma)
  • The PhD thesis must be the applicant’s first professional research experience

Funding consists of €42,000 over three years.

Applications to the 2021 call must be submitted by the deadline of 24 September 2021 (23:59 Paris time).