France

The major entities involved in astrophysical researches in France are the Universities and CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Center for Scientific Research).

A typical feature of the French organisation is that astronomical researches are mainly performed within laboratories called UMR - Unité Mixte de Recherche (Joint Research Units) that are joint ventures between public research bodies and Universities. Throughout France, there are 40 UMRs involved in astrophysics and astroparticle researches.

Another major funding agency is CNES - Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (National Centre of Space Studies) that conceives and executes space programs, often in collaboration with ESA and other international partners, and supports the related scientific research and exploitation of space data.

All of these public bodies act under the supervising authority of the Ministry of Education and Research.

Main Scientific Institutions

CNRS is the largest French research institution, organized with 6 thematic departments. Research in astrophysics and astroparticle physics is performed within the MPPU - Mathématiques, Physique, Planète et Univers (Mathematics, Physics, Earth Sciences, and Universe) department.

Within CNRS, the National Institute named INSU - Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers (National Institute for Earth Sciences and Astronomy) is in charge of defining the national strategic programs in Astronomy and Earth sciences research and providing resources for very large research infrastructures. INSU represents France in all international organisations that require a national membership, except ESO and ESA.

Universities are the other major players in astrophysical research. In addition to teaching duties, they support the operations of the UMR (Joint Research Units).

There are 2 astronomical Observatories with a status of legal entity close to that of Universities: the Observatoire de Paris and the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur. Other observatories are groups in UMR with some technical and administrative staff or are national observation stations.

CNES is in charge of defining and implementing the space policy of France. A pluriannual State-CNES contract (currently 2005-2010) was signed between CNES, the Ministry for Higher Education and Research, the Ministry of Defence and the delegate Ministry of Budget. The contract defines the strategic vision of CNES, provides the programs priorities at short, medium and long-term and guaranties the resources allocated.

For the scientific program, CNES has established several advisory committees for: Astronomy, Solar System, SHM (Sun, Heliosphere, Magnetosphere), and Fundamental Physics. The members of these committees are chosen by CNES. Space projects, themselves, are chosen by the Board after recommendations of the CPS - Comité des Programmes Scientifiques.

Other Scientific Institutions

Other important national institutions that are involved in the astronomy domain are:

IN2P3 - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules (National Institute for Nuclear and Particle Physics) which performs the same kind of activities as INSU in the fields of nuclear and particle physics researches, including astroparticle physics and cosmology.

CEA - Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (Commissariat for Atomic Energy), which performs fundamental research in the physical sciences, including astrophysics.

Funding

The funds for the French research system are mainly provided by the Ministry of Research that allocates funds to the national institutes, in particular to INSU and IN2P3 through CNRS. In astronomy, INSU is the funding agency for ground-based infrastructures and databases, including partnerships to international facilities such as IRAM, CFHT and THEMIS. IN2P3 is the funding agency responsible for astroparticle infrastructures like ANTARES, HESS and VIRGO.

INSU performs a call for proposals, based on the thematic priorities of the national astronomy plan, for R&D projects and for instrumentation.

In 2005, a new funding agency, the ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche, National Research Agency) has been founded. This agency launches several calls for research proposals once a year. About one third of the budget is devoted to un-targeted programs and this is the main call for which astronomy can apply. ANR funds equipment and non-permanent positions for up to 4 years (Ph. D. students, post-docs, technicians and engineers) but does not fund infrastructure nor permanent positions.

The French member at the ESO Council is appointed at the Ministry level, while its funding comes through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ESA contribution is funded through CNES.

CNES funds R&D, instrumentation, databases and equipment for scientific space missions. It supports scientific analysis of space data and it also funds non-permanent personnel (engineers, technicians, post-doc and PhD thesis).

Personel

Research staff positions in CNRS and Universities are divided into five different levels.

The recruitment of CNRS researchers is performed during a national competition that takes place in the spring. Candidates are selected by a committee composed of 2/3 of members elected by researchers and 1/3 of members designated and nominated by the Director General of CNRS.

University Professors are recruited on a local basis by a thematic committee called CSE - Commission de Spécialistes d’Etablissement which proposes a ranked list of names to the University Boards.

Astronomers are employed by Universities and have both a teaching and functional duties. They are selected by a committee named CNAP - Conseil Nationale des Astronomes et Physiciens (National Council of Astronomers and Physicists) that organizes a nation-wide competition.