Agence National de la Recherche

What they do

Founded in 2005 under the authority of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the ANR is the primary funding agency for project-based science in France. While its historical mandate is to fund academic research, it has evolved into a cornerstone of the French innovation and startup ecosystem. It acts as a key operator for the €54 billion "France 2030" investment plan and directly funds startups and SMEs through its "LabCom" (joint laboratories) and i-Lab/i-Nov programs. The ANR is highly distinctive for its rigorous, peer-reviewed selection process, providing not just massive non-dilutive capital, but also immense scientific validation and direct bridges between private enterprise and top-tier public research institutions.

What they look for

The ANR's mission is to promote French project-based research, stimulate disruptive innovation by encouraging multidisciplinary projects, and foster technology transfer between public research laboratories and the private sector. For startups and private companies, the ANR looks for deeptech innovations, high-impact scientific rigor, and strong collaborative frameworks with public research entities. They heavily favor projects aligned with national strategic priorities, particularly those addressing decarbonization, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced materials, and healthcare.

Stage

Pre-seed, Seed

Sectors

Deeptech, Healthcare, Climate, AI, Food and agriculture

Based

Paris, FR