Untitled - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de l'Observatoire de Grenoble
Untitled - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de l'Observatoire de Grenoble
Untitled - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de l'Observatoire de Grenoble
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• National astronomy programs. 4<br />
Figure 1.7: Budget resources structure<br />
The main programs of interest for LAOG are PNPS (Programme National <strong>de</strong> Physique Stellaire), PNP<br />
(Programme National <strong>de</strong> Planétologie), and PCMI (Programme National <strong>de</strong> Physique et Chimie du Milieu<br />
Interstellaire), along with the GDR (research cluster) PCHE (Physique <strong>de</strong>s sources Cosmiques à Haute<br />
Energie) and the ASHRA (Action Spécifique pour la Haute Résolution Angulaire). The corresponding<br />
funds are used essentially for collaborative purposes (in some cases also for equipment), mainly, though<br />
not exclusively, within the French community. A yearly AO is issued, followed by a selection of proposals<br />
by a scientific committee.<br />
The funds ma<strong>de</strong> available through National Programs bring about 20 to 30 kE, (with fluctuations since<br />
the funding of the National Programs is itself variable). They can provi<strong>de</strong> very useful “pocket money”<br />
to the teams for collaborations (∼ 10-15% of the total LAOG operating budget). For their parts, LAOG<br />
teams are regularly successful, and use these funds as much as possible to have an in<strong>de</strong>pen<strong>de</strong>nt budget<br />
which they manage by themselves, mainly for scientific collaborations, including short-term visitors, and<br />
thematic workshops.<br />
This year (2005) a new national research funding structure has emerged, the “Agence Nationale <strong>de</strong> la<br />
Recherche” (ANR). Basically, this structure (endowed with about 700 ME in total), more or less inspired<br />
by the NSF, is meant to provi<strong>de</strong> funds and human resources (which is a major difference with national<br />
programs) on a competitive basis. While most of the funding is targeted towards major national priorities<br />
(e.g., nanotechnology projects), a fraction (about 20 %) is “open”. ANR issued its first AO last spring,<br />
and LAOG has submitted several proposals in the open category, mostly for post-docs (a critical <strong>de</strong>ficiency<br />
of the French research system). Thus the funding LAOG competes for with ANR is roughly an or<strong>de</strong>r of<br />
magnitu<strong>de</strong> larger than for programs –which is logical since salaries are now counted. We are expecting<br />
the results of this new experience, which could have a strong impact on our future funding.<br />
4 Another note for our foreign colleagues. French research in astronomy is structured into “national programs” or smaller-sized<br />
“research clusters” and “specific actions”, fun<strong>de</strong>d mainly by CNRS, with contributions from other state agencies like CNES (French<br />
space agency) and CEA (Atomic energy commission).<br />
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