What is a PIU?
A Pasteur International Joint Research Unit is a “Virtual Unit” that aims
- to bring together two or more international research teams, whereof at least one belongs to the Institut Pasteur or their affiliated institutes (IP Guyane, IP Guadeloupe, IP Nouvelle-Calédonie),
- to pool their complementary skills and expertise
- to build research programs on topics of common interest,
- to raise national or international funding for implementing together their projected joint research.
The PIU has one leader for each participating partner. They jointly assume the scientific responsibility of PIU. The team participating on a PIU retains its full administrative affiliation to its mother-institution at it is their original geographic location.
The Duration of a PIU
A PIU is scheduled over 5 years and aims at strengthening the relations between the Institut Pasteur and other international research institution(s) on innovative research topics. The support of these partnerships, between research entities, should improve their visibility and, consequently, the possibilities to apply for substantial grants.
This 2022 PIU international call for applications will support the creation and the renewal of PIUs. Co-applicants, should be supported by their host institution or university. If the partners are IPIN members, the project should be preferably in line with the scientific strategy of the Network.
Applications must be written in English and submitted online no later than March 31tst 2023.
Incomplete or paper-based applications will not be considered.
Please refer to the application guidelines and procedure:
When deemed necessary, the Institut Pasteur reserves the right to ask candidates for additional information in order to evaluate their application.
Candidates must not submit information within their application that is confidential and/or protected by the intellectual property rights of third parties, and may contravene any rights of third parties.
Selection process
The department of International Affairs of the Institut Pasteur (DI) with the Pasteur Network is in charge of the PIU selection process.
Each application will be reviewed by a dedicated expert panel. The final decision on selection (and financing of the IP parties) will be made by ranking of the received applications during the panel meeting and validated by the executive management of the Pasteur Network. Candidates will be notified in due course.
Funding of a PIU
Within the PIU, each partner institute will support its local group of PIU by an equal funding as defined in the PIU agreement. Raising additional funding from external sources is strongly recommended.
Within the PIU, each partner institute will support its local group of PIU by an equal funding as defined in the PIU agreement. Raising additional funding from external sources is strongly recommended.
The PIU budget can be used to cover mobilities between the partners, scientific communications, consumables, technical services and small equipment (max. 2000 €). Management costs are not eligible
Selection criteria
- The opinion of each partner institute directors, including Institut Pasteur;
- The relevance of the project to the scientific strategies and priorities of the partner institutes, including Institut Pasteur;
- The scientific merits of the project including pertinence, originality, feasibility, the adequacy of the proposed budget for the two first years of the candidate PIU. Are particularly important:
- the complementarity between the partner teams;
- the contribution to the development of new skills;
- the potential impact of the projected outcomes on the partner institutes;
- the promotion of cooperation with local, regional and international teaching and research institutions.
- The quality of the founding consortium and of the group leaders (CV, post doc, Scientific production, research contracts…).
- For renewal, the PIU coordinators will have to argue the added value of the PIU and how an additional 5 years will be beneficial.
Contact : marianne.lucas-hourani@pasteur.fr
