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Apply Now: Indo-French Joint Call for Research and Innovation

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Open Call: Research Grants on Improving the Use of Research Evidence (US)

Deadline: 20-Apr-2026

The Department of Science and Technology (DST), India and the French National Research Agency (ANR), France are inviting joint research proposals to strengthen India–France collaboration in Applied Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The call supports binational projects of up to three years in four priority areas, with up to €1.5 million allocated by each side to support joint research and innovation activities.

This opportunity is ideal for Indo-French research teams that can demonstrate scientific synergy, integrated collaboration, researcher mobility, and joint outputs in areas such as Mathematical Foundations of AI, AI optimization, Safe and Trustworthy AI, and AI applications in PDE modeling.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the French National Research Agency (ANR) are inviting joint research proposals to deepen India–France scientific collaboration in Applied Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence.

The call is designed to strengthen existing Indo-French research networks while also encouraging new collaborative partnerships through innovative binational projects. These projects should show strong scientific complementarity, clear cooperation between partners, and a shared commitment to producing joint research outcomes.

Key Grant Details at a Glance

Funding Snapshot

Core Objective

The call aims to support:

Why This Call Matters

Artificial Intelligence and Applied Mathematics are deeply interconnected. Many of today’s most important AI challenges—such as optimization, reliability, safety, interpretability, and advanced modeling—depend on strong mathematical foundations.

This call matters because it:

For researchers and institutions, this is not just a funding opportunity. It is a strategic platform for binational AI and mathematics research, with strong emphasis on scientific excellence, collaboration, and shared outputs.

Research Areas and Priority Themes

The call focuses on four main research areas in Applied Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence.

1) Mathematical Foundations of AI

This area supports research on the mathematical principles that underpin artificial intelligence systems.

It may include work related to:

This area is important because strong mathematical foundations improve the rigor, reliability, and long-term scalability of AI methods.

2) Theoretical Optimization and AI

This area focuses on optimization theory and methods that improve the design, training, and performance of AI systems.

It may include work related to:

This area is especially relevant for research that improves accuracy, efficiency, robustness, and computational scalability in AI.

3) Safe and Trustworthy AI

This area supports research on making AI systems safe, reliable, robust, and trustworthy.

It may include work related to:

This is a highly important area as governments, researchers, and industries increasingly require AI systems that are responsible, dependable, and aligned with safety expectations.

4) AI Applications in PDE Modeling

This area focuses on the use of AI in Partial Differential Equation (PDE) modeling and related advanced computational methods.

It may include work related to:

This area is especially relevant for advanced applications in engineering, physics, environmental modeling, and computational science.

Expanded Explanation of the Research Scope

Across the four themes, the call broadly supports research on:

In practical terms, this means the programme is looking for proposals that combine:

Projects should not be loosely linked parallel studies. Instead, they should function as genuinely integrated Indo-French collaborations, where both sides contribute meaningfully to the same scientific agenda.

Who Should Apply?

This call is best suited for:

It is especially relevant for teams working in:

Why Collaboration Quality Matters

The funding agencies are clearly emphasizing binational scientific synergy, not just co-signing between two institutions.

Projects are expected to:

Expected Collaboration Activities

Strong proposals should include activities such as:

In short, the collaboration itself is a core evaluation factor—not just the research topic.

Funding Structure and Duration

Project Duration

Funding Model

Total Funding Available

This funding is intended to support joint research and innovation projects, while each national team receives support from its own funding agency.

Who Is Eligible?

Basic Eligibility Rule

To be eligible, proposals must be jointly submitted by:

This is a mandatory binational requirement.

Proposal Eligibility Requirements

A proposal must:

Participation of Companies or NGOs

Participation from:

is allowed under specific conditions.

However, on the Indian side:

This is an important condition and should not be overlooked.

What Makes a Strong Proposal?

A competitive proposal should clearly demonstrate:

The strongest proposals will show that the partnership is scientifically interdependent, not simply administrative.

How to Apply

This is a joint international research call, so applicants should prepare both the scientific case and the collaboration case carefully.

Step-by-Step Application Approach

  1. Confirm partner eligibility in both countries
    Ensure there is at least one eligible Indian partner and one eligible French partner.

  2. Choose the strongest research fit
    Align the proposal clearly with one or more of the four priority areas.

  3. Build a genuinely integrated binational team
    Show complementary expertise, shared tasks, and a common research agenda.

  4. Prepare the scientific document carefully
    The proposal must clearly explain the research problem, methods, expected outcomes, and why the Indo-French partnership adds value.

  5. Include all mandatory documents
    Submit the required scientific document, CVs, and complete online submission data.

  6. Plan researcher mobility and collaboration activities
    Add workshops, exchanges, joint publications, and other cooperation mechanisms.

  7. Match the budget to the workplan
    Ensure financial requests are realistic and aligned with the project scope.

  8. Check company/NGO conditions if applicable
    On the Indian side, companies or NGOs must use their own resources and provide a letter of intent.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common errors when preparing a proposal:

Tips to Make Your Proposal Stronger

Practical Tips

What Reviewers Will Likely Value

Reviewers are likely to look for:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) Who is launching this India–France research call?

The call is launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India and the French National Research Agency (ANR), France.

2) What research fields does the call support?

The call supports Applied Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, especially in four areas:

  1. Mathematical Foundations of AI

  2. Theoretical Optimization and AI

  3. Safe and Trustworthy AI

  4. AI applications in PDE modeling

3) How much funding is available?

The funding amount is up to €1.5 million allocated by each side, meaning both India and France will fund their own eligible participants.

4) How long can projects run?

Projects can be funded for up to 3 years, and both sides aim to align project timelines.

5) Who can apply?

Proposals must be jointly submitted by:

Participation from companies or NGOs is possible under specific conditions.

6) Can companies or NGOs participate?

Yes, but on the Indian side, companies or NGOs must:

7) What documents are required?

A complete proposal must include:

Conclusion

The DST–ANR India–France Joint Research Call on Applied Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence is a strong opportunity for binational research teams to build or deepen Indo-French scientific collaboration in strategically important AI and mathematics fields. With up to €1.5 million allocated by each side and projects lasting up to three years, the call supports high-quality joint research that combines mathematical rigor, AI innovation, international mobility, and shared scientific outputs.

For more information, visit Department of Science and Technology.

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