Deadline: 17-Jun-2026
The PHC Bosphore is a Franco-Turkish Hubert Curien Partnership program supporting scientific and technological collaboration between research teams in France and Türkiye. It funds early-stage “seed” projects that build long-term international research partnerships across all scientific disciplines, including humanities and social sciences.
The program emphasizes researcher mobility, involvement of early-career researchers, and development of collaborations with European and international networking potential.
Overview of PHC Bosphore
PHC Bosphore supports:
- Franco-Turkish scientific cooperation
- Joint research between laboratories
- Development of new international partnerships
- Early-stage collaborative research projects
- Long-term institutional networking
It is designed as a seed funding mechanism to initiate durable research relationships between France and Türkiye.
Scientific Scope
The program is open to all disciplines, including:
- Natural sciences
- Engineering and technology
- Health and life sciences
- Social sciences
- Humanities
Key Objectives
The program aims to:
- Strengthen Franco-Turkish research collaboration
- Encourage scientific and technological exchange
- Support young researchers and doctoral/postdoctoral researchers
- Build complementary research partnerships
- Promote European and international research networking
- Support projects with long-term structuring potential
Funding Purpose
PHC Bosphore is not large-scale project funding. It is intended for:
- Initial collaboration (“seed projects”)
- Exchange visits between teams
- Joint research planning
- Building future joint proposals
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include:
- Tenured researchers
- Research teams in universities or public research institutions
Additional participation:
- Companies may join if linked to an academic partner
Requirements:
- Joint application from French and Turkish partners
- Submission through respective national authorities
Eligibility Restrictions
- Previously funded projects are generally not eligible for immediate reapplication
- Priority is given to new collaborations
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are assessed based on:
- Scientific quality and originality
- Expertise and complementarity of research teams
- Involvement of early-career researchers
- Strength of international collaboration
- Potential for long-term partnership development
- European or broader network integration potential
Programme Priorities
Strong proposals typically demonstrate:
- Active participation of young researchers
- Clear scientific objectives
- Mutual benefit between partners
- Capacity to evolve into larger collaborations
- Potential for European research integration
Why This Programme Matters
PHC Bosphore plays an important role in:
- Launching new international research partnerships
- Supporting mobility between France and Türkiye
- Strengthening early-career researcher development
- Building pathways toward European research funding
- Encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration
It helps researchers move from:
- Initial contact → collaborative projects → long-term research networks
How It Works
Step 1: Identify Partners
Researchers in France and Türkiye form a bilateral collaboration.
Step 2: Prepare Joint Proposal
Both partners jointly define:
- Research objectives
- Collaboration plan
- Mobility and exchange activities
Step 3: Submit Application
Applications are submitted in parallel through national systems.
Step 4: Evaluation
Projects are reviewed based on scientific merit and collaboration quality.
Step 5: Funding of Seed Collaboration
Selected projects receive support for:
- Research visits
- Exchanges
- Joint project development
Conclusion
The PHC Bosphore program is a Franco-Turkish research initiative that supports early-stage scientific collaboration across all disciplines. By funding seed projects and encouraging researcher mobility, it helps build long-term international partnerships with strong scientific and European networking potential.
For more information, visit MEAE.