PAUSE, National program for the urgent aid and reception of scientists in exile
Initiated by the French government with the support of civil society and economic players, the mission of PAUSE (Programme d'aide à l'Accueil en Urgence des Scientifiques en Exil - National program for the urgent aid and reception of scientists in exile) is to accommodate and protect researchers from countries in which the political situation places their work and their families in danger.
2022 calls for applications schedule
Session 1
Deadline for the submission of applications: 28 January 2022
Session 2
Deadline for the submission of applications: 8 April 2022
Session 3
Deadline for the submission of applications: 24 September 2022
Who can submit an application?
The application process is open to public research organisations and public higher education institutions under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and/or of the Ministry of Culture, as well as to general private interest higher education institutions (établissements d’enseignement supérieur privés d’intérêt général, EESPIG) which may submit an application form to accommodate a researcher within the scope of the PAUSE programme.
All of the means by which to submit an application form can be found on the Collège de France website
The National Program for the urgent aid and reception of scientists in exile (Programme d’aide à l’Accueil en Urgence des Scientifiques en Exil, PAUSE) was created in January 2017 for a duration of 5 years, following the signing of an agreement bvetween the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the Collège de France and the Chancellery of the Universities of Paris.
The aim of PAUSE is to promote the reception of foreign researchers, scientists and intellectuals who find themselves in emergency situations in France. The intention is to enable them to continue their work and protect their families.
Funding of 2 millions euros, renewed in 2019, was allocated to the programme by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. It will be used in particular to grant incentivising funding to higher education institutions and public research organisations that wish to commit to receiving foreign researchers who are in danger and to assisting them with the process of integration, both professional and personal.
The PAUSE programme offers co-financing, in the amount of 60%, for French institutions, schools and research organisations who wish to accommodate researchers who are in danger.
At the end of 2020, PAUSE had been effective in supporting the reception of 222 at-risk foreign researchers in France. There are as many women as there are men.
- 30% of the researchers received come from Syria, while 60% come from neighbouring countries such as Iraq, Turkey, Russia and Afghanistan. Some also come from Burundi, Venezuela, Pakistan and Yemen.
- Two thirds of them specialise in humanities.
- The received researchers are university professors and experienced researchers, but also PhD students, who account for 30% of the overall group.
To find out more, consult the website of the Collège de France, the project initiator, in cooperation with higher education institutions and public research organisations.
Support fund
The PAUSE programme operates with the help of public funding but also thanks to public and private partnerships. A subscription fund has been opened up to the Fondation de France to provide financial support for the actions of the PAUSE programme. Donations can be made directly online.
