ASTRID Climatic Extremes Call for Expression of Interest 2026 (France)

Deadline: 31-Jul-2026

The Climatic Extremes Call for Expression of Interest is a research initiative launched by the French National Research Agency (ANR) in partnership with the French Defence Innovation Agency (AID). The programme seeks innovative research projects that address the growing challenges posed by climate change and extreme environmental conditions on defence operations and security preparedness.

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, military and civilian systems face new operational challenges in regions experiencing severe heat, cold, and environmental instability. This call aims to support interdisciplinary research that improves understanding of these evolving risks and develops solutions to enhance resilience and operational effectiveness.

Programme Details

Organizers: French National Research Agency (ANR) and French Defence Innovation Agency (AID)
Programme Type: Call for Expression of Interest
Focus Area: Climate Extremes and Defence Research
Eligible Applicants: Public and private French entities
Maximum Project Duration: 48 months
Research Approach: Interdisciplinary and collaborative
Geographic Focus: France and defence-relevant environments affected by climate change

Purpose of the Call

The initiative seeks to generate new scientific knowledge on how climate extremes affect military operations, intervention strategies, human performance, technological systems, and civilian populations.

Key objectives include:

Understanding the impact of extreme heat and cold on defence operations.
Improving preparedness for climate-related operational challenges.
Supporting innovation in defence technologies and deployed systems.
Examining human performance under combined environmental and conflict-related stress.
Strengthening resilience of military personnel and civilian populations.
Advancing scientific knowledge on environmental characterization in extreme conditions.
Encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration across scientific fields.

The programme emphasizes research that connects climate science, defence innovation, technology development, and social sciences.

Research Themes

Projects should focus on one or more of the programme’s priority themes while demonstrating connections between climate extremes and defence-related challenges.

Psycho-Physiology in Extreme Environments

This theme explores the physical and psychological effects of operating in environments characterized by extreme temperatures and environmental stress.

Potential research areas include:

Human adaptation to extreme heat.
Human adaptation to extreme cold.
Cognitive performance under environmental stress.
Fatigue and operational readiness.
Stress management in military contexts.
Human health and resilience during prolonged deployments.
Performance optimization in hostile environments.

Technologies for Deployed Systems

This theme focuses on the resilience and effectiveness of military and operational systems in extreme climatic conditions.

Relevant topics may include:

Equipment performance in extreme heat.
Equipment performance in extreme cold.
Climate-resilient defence technologies.
Autonomous and remote systems.
Energy management in harsh environments.
Sensor performance under environmental stress.
Infrastructure resilience.

Human and Social Sciences

Researchers are encouraged to investigate the social and organizational dimensions of climate-related defence challenges.

Potential topics include:

Cohesion of combat units.
Civilian population resilience.
Social responses to environmental crises.
Community adaptation strategies.
Decision-making during compound emergencies.
Human behavior in conflict and climate-affected regions.
Governance and crisis management.

Environmental and Physico-Chemical Characterization

This theme focuses on understanding the physical properties and environmental dynamics of extreme climates.

Research areas may include:

Characterization of extreme heat environments.
Characterization of extreme cold environments.
Atmospheric and environmental monitoring.
Climate risk assessment.
Environmental modeling.
Hazard prediction systems.
Environmental impacts on operational planning.

Defence and Climate Change: Why This Research Matters

Climate change is increasingly recognized as a factor that influences security, stability, and defence operations worldwide.

Extreme climatic conditions can affect:

Military personnel performance.
Equipment reliability.
Infrastructure resilience.
Logistics and supply chains.
Humanitarian response capabilities.
Civilian protection efforts.
Strategic planning and operational readiness.

Understanding these interactions is essential for developing effective intervention strategies in environments where climate-related hazards and armed conflicts occur simultaneously.

Interdisciplinary Research Expectations

The call strongly encourages interdisciplinary projects that integrate expertise from multiple scientific domains.

Examples of interdisciplinary approaches include:

Climate science and defence engineering.
Physiology and operational readiness.
Social sciences and crisis management.
Environmental monitoring and military logistics.
Technology innovation and human performance.
Risk assessment and strategic planning.

Projects that connect multiple research themes and address complex real-world challenges are particularly encouraged.

Who Is Eligible?

The programme is open to French organizations involved in research, innovation, development, or training activities.

Eligible participants may include:

Public research institutions.
Universities.
Research laboratories.
Innovation centers.
Private companies.
Technology development organizations.
Training and education institutions.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following conditions:

Be a public or private French entity.
Be engaged in research, development, innovation, or training activities.
Submit a proposal aligned with the programme’s objectives.
Comply with all application and participation requirements.

Additional requirements include:

At least one public entity must participate in future project submissions.
Private entities may submit only one proposal under this call.
Applicants must not directly engage representatives of the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Combatants during proposal preparation.

Proposal Requirements

Submitted proposals must contain detailed project information and clearly demonstrate scientific relevance and feasibility.

Applications should include:

Project Coordinator Information

Applicants must identify:

Project coordinator.
Lead institution.
Contact information.
Project management structure.

Participating Organizations

Proposals should list:

All participating entities.
Roles and responsibilities.
Collaborative arrangements.

Research Objectives

Applicants should clearly explain:

Scientific goals.
Research questions.
Expected contributions.
Relevance to climate and defence challenges.

Methodology

The proposal should describe:

Research design.
Analytical approaches.
Experimental methods.
Data collection strategies.
Evaluation frameworks.

Tools and Resources

Applicants should explain:

Technologies to be used.
Research infrastructure.
Technical resources.
Collaboration mechanisms.

Preliminary Results

Where applicable, applicants may include:

Pilot studies.
Previous findings.
Early-stage results.
Proof-of-concept evidence.

Budget and Costs

The proposal should provide:

Estimated project costs.
Resource allocation plans.
Budget justification.

Project Duration

Projects must:

Not exceed 48 months.
Include a realistic implementation schedule.
Define key milestones and deliverables.

How the Selection Process Works

Step 1: Prepare the Expression of Interest

Applicants develop a concept aligned with the Climatic Extremes research priorities.

Step 2: Assemble the Research Team

Organizations identify collaborators and define project roles.

Step 3: Develop the Proposal

The proposal should clearly explain objectives, methods, expected outcomes, and relevance to defence and climate challenges.

Step 4: Submit the Application

Applicants submit the completed expression of interest according to programme guidelines.

Step 5: Evaluation and Review

Proposals are reviewed based on:

Scientific quality.
Relevance to programme themes.
Interdisciplinary approach.
Innovation potential.
Feasibility and impact.

Step 6: Future Project Development

Selected concepts may proceed toward future collaborative research project development.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

Demonstrating clear links between climate extremes and defence challenges.
Incorporating interdisciplinary expertise.
Presenting a strong scientific rationale.
Addressing real-world operational needs.
Including innovative methodologies.
Demonstrating feasibility and impact.
Providing evidence of previous research achievements.
Highlighting collaboration among partners.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Focusing on climate research without defence relevance.
Submitting narrowly scoped projects lacking interdisciplinary elements.
Providing unclear methodologies.
Failing to demonstrate practical applications.
Omitting required project information.
Underestimating project resources and timelines.
Ignoring operational and societal dimensions of climate extremes.

Expected Impact

The programme seeks to generate research outcomes that contribute to:

Improved defence preparedness.
Better understanding of climate-related operational risks.
Enhanced resilience of military personnel and systems.
Stronger civilian and community resilience.
Innovation in defence technologies.
Improved environmental monitoring and characterization.
More effective intervention and response strategies.
Evidence-based decision-making for future climate and security challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Climatic Extremes Call for Expression of Interest?

It is a research initiative launched by ANR and AID to support studies examining the interaction between climate extremes and defence-related challenges.

Who can apply?

Public and private French organizations engaged in research, innovation, development, or training activities may participate.

What research areas are prioritized?

Psycho-physiology, deployed system technologies, human and social sciences, and environmental characterization in extreme heat and cold conditions.

Is interdisciplinary research encouraged?

Yes. The programme strongly supports interdisciplinary projects that combine expertise from multiple scientific fields.

How long can projects last?

Proposed projects must not exceed 48 months.

Can private companies apply?

Yes. Private entities are eligible but may submit only one proposal under this call.

What information must be included in the proposal?

Proposals must identify the project coordinator, participating organizations, objectives, methodology, tools, preliminary results if available, estimated costs, and project duration.

Conclusion

The ANR–AID Climatic Extremes Call for Expression of Interest provides a significant opportunity for French research organizations to address the growing intersection between climate change and defence operations. By supporting interdisciplinary research on extreme heat, extreme cold, human resilience, advanced technologies, and environmental characterization, the initiative seeks to strengthen preparedness for future operational environments shaped by both climatic and security challenges.

Researchers, universities, innovation centers, and private-sector organizations working at the intersection of climate science, defence technology, human performance, and environmental research should consider this opportunity to contribute to critical scientific advances and future resilience strategies.

For more information, visit ANR.