research hosting agreement

The research hosting agreement is a legal framework that allows a public higher education and research institution, a national research organisation and other institutions to host a doctoral candidate of foreign nationality who holds a scholarship for foreign nationals and is enrolled for a doctorate in France and/or abroad.

It is provided for under Article L.434-1 of the Research Code. It was created by Law No. 2020-1674 of 24 December 2020 on research programming (LPR). Its implementation is set out in Circular ESRS2207381C of 4 May 2022, which also provides a model research stay agreement and all relevant information.

Purpose

The research hosting agreement provides a framework well-suited to hosting foreign doctoral candidates and researchers who hold a scholarship or funding awarded on scientific criteria by a foreign government or institution, or by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE).

The research hosting agreement provides a secure framework for hosting, both for the institution and for the foreign doctoral candidate, whether or not they are a national of an EU member state. It governs the arrangements for hosting and the allocation of intellectual property rights, and simplifies the rules on residence permits and social security cover.

The main purpose of the research stay is to prepare for the doctorate. This activity may be supplemented by teaching.

Duration

For doctoral candidates, the maximum duration of the agreement is set at three years, renewable twice for one additional year each time, up to the limit of the funding period.

Remuneration

In addition to the funding awarded to the doctoral candidate by the foreign government, the foreign institution or the MEAE, the host institution may pay a supplementary contribution.

This contribution, which does not constitute a salary within the meaning of Article L. 3221-3 of the Labour Code, helps cover the living costs of the foreign doctoral candidate or researcher, up to 50% of the annual ceiling referred to in Article L. 241-3 of the Social Security Code. It may take various forms (housing assistance, travel expenses, etc.). This annual ceiling is pro-rated according to the length of the doctoral candidate's or researcher's stay. As things stand, this contribution is capped at (Opens a new window) €24,030 per year.

The multi-year residence permit marked 'talent-researcher'

Subject to funding conditions, a foreign doctoral candidate from outside the EU (not a national of an EU member state) who holds a research hosting agreement may apply for a 'talent-researcher' residence permit.

To do so, they must provide the consular authorities with the hosting agreement (Cerfa form No. 16079*03), jointly signed by the host institution and the person concerned. The hosting agreement states that the foreign doctoral candidate or researcher is hosted under a research stay and specifies the total monthly amount of funding paid to that person.

The total amount of funding takes into account the scholarship or funding awarded on scientific criteria by a foreign government or institution, or by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), as well as any supplementary contribution paid by the host institution.

To obtain the talent passport, this total monthly amount of funding must be at least equal to the minimum monthly salary of public-law contractual doctoral candidates.

One of the main advantages of the 'talent-researcher' residence permit is that it is multi-year.
Another advantage of the 'talent-researcher' residence permit is that it allows the foreign doctoral candidate or researcher to travel with their family. In this case, family members may apply for a Talent passport - family permit.
The 'talent-researcher' residence permit also allows the doctoral candidate or researcher to carry out additional activities directly related to their research work, with the exception of activities that may require setting up a company or self-employed status.

The student visa or long-stay visa for studies

If the doctoral candidate coming for a research stay does not meet the financial resources requirement for the talent passport, they may apply for a Student visa or a long-stay visa for studies.

This Student residence permit does not extend to family members, who may instead apply for a Visitor visa.

It does, however, permit a secondary activity, up to 60% of the annual working time, with the exception of activities that may require setting up a company or self-employed status. Applications for the long-stay visa for studies are based on presenting the research stay agreement in place of enrolment at a higher education institution.

Content of the agreement

The research hosting agreement sets out the arrangements for support and hosting. It includes the following elements:

general conditions: length of the stay, location of the host research unit, material environment, internal regulations applicable to the doctoral candidate/researcher, compliance with health and safety rules in force at the host institution, arrangements for authorised absences;
the research duties, and, where applicable, the additional activities assigned to the doctoral candidate or researcher;
the rules applicable to intellectual property, scientific integrity, professional ethics and confidentiality in force at the host institution;
the financial conditions: the amount and source of the scholarship, the amount of any supplementary contribution provided by the host institution and the arrangements for its payment, and the total amount of funding, which must also be stated on the hosting agreement (Cerfa form 16079*03);
insurance and liability conditions: public liability insurance, accident at work and occupational illness cover (ATMP), health insurance, repatriation;
the conditions for termination and dispute resolution.

Social security cover

Health cover

As soon as they arrive in France, the foreign doctoral candidate applies for registration with the CPAM (local health insurance fund). Doctoral candidates enrolled for a doctorate in France are immediately registered for universal health cover (Puma), by virtue of their enrolment for the doctorate as a student.

Accidents at Work and Occupational Illnesses (AT/MP)

The research hosting agreement makes it possible to provide AT/MP cover for foreign doctoral candidates funded by a scholarship and/or funding that does not constitute a salary within the meaning of Article L. 3221-3 of the Labour Code. This cover is not available under student status alone.

This cover provides full reimbursement of healthcare costs relating to AT/MP (accident at work/occupational illness). However, it does not entitle these non-salaried scholarship holders to daily allowances.

The host institution must complete a declaration with the social security bodies. As there is no employment contract between the host institution and the doctoral candidate, the host institution must not transmit personal data; its AT/MP social security contributions must be declared monthly in the form of an (Opens a new window) 'aggregated contribution – S21.G00.23'.

Public liability

For all other risks, the person hosted must take out personal insurance (public liability, for example).

Intellectual property

The research stay agreement sets out the rules applicable to intellectual property, subject to existing legal provisions.

For example, for software and its documentation, (Opens a new window) Article 113-9-1 of the Intellectual Property Code applies to doctoral candidates hosted under this arrangement: the economic rights then belong to the host institution, which alone is entitled to exercise them.

Parties to this agreement

For host institutions:

public scientific, cultural and professional institution (EPSCP) (universities, certain grandes écoles ... (Opens a new window) See the list)
public scientific and technological institution (EPST) (CNRS, INRAE, INSERM, IRD, INRIA, INED ... (Opens a new window) See the list)
public industrial and commercial institutions;
public institutions whose statutes provide for a research remit, as referred to in Article L. 112-6 of the Research Code;
foundations recognised as being of public benefit whose main activity is public research within the meaning of Article L. 112-1 of the Research Code;
private non-profit higher education institutions falling under Article L. 732-1 of the Education Code, in respect of their research activities.

For hosted doctoral candidates: doctoral candidates of foreign nationality enrolled at a higher education institution in France and/or abroad.