On May 27, 2026, the ANR (French National Research Agency) held the Phase 1 final review for the ASDESR France2030 project, coordinated by Damien Vogel. This provided an opportunity to take stock of the Mission Europe for Research three years into the project, as part of the team was recruited using this national funding.
Céline Damon-Beeckaert, head of the MER, spoke to present this review and the trajectory of the site’s Horizon Europe projects. Joana Boavida, PhD, presented the new role of Writing Engineer, and finally, Nadia Maio described the project support and coordination services offered by the MER.
A year and a half after its launch, the Mission Europe for Research (MER), led by Aix-Marseille University, the CNRS, Inserm, and the IRD, has established itself as a key player in supporting European research at the Aix-Marseille site.
2025 was marked by the consolidation of achievements and the improvement of the quality of activities. The team, now fully structured, has strengthened its expertise through targeted training and the harmonization of practices, particularly within the identification unit, where each unit now has a MER liaison. The relationship of trust between the governing bodies (CODIR, COSUI, COPIL) and the smooth inter-cluster coordination have fostered a strong collective dynamic. The Multi-Year European Action Plan (PAP) was launched, marking a new stage in the structuring of the site’s European strategy.
Despite a flurry of European calls for proposals between late August and mid-October, the MER successfully supported the research community: 202 proposals were submitted and 241 projects were launched.
Recognized as the single point of contact for European affairs for the four institutions, the MER continues to pursue its mission with ambition: to support, unite, and strengthen the presence of Aix-Marseille research within the European research landscape.
A first milestone has been reached!
