Europe: A dynamic initiative supported and shared by Université Côte d'Azur and research organizations in the region

Following a restructuring phase launched by Université Côte d'Azur’s Initiative of Excellence (IdEx) between 2016 and 2020, a significant expansion began in 2020. This development builds on the momentum initiated in 2016, notably with the creation of the Shared Europe Unit (CEM), which initially brought together Université Côte d'Azur, Inria, the CNRS, the Nice University Hospital, SKEMA Business School, and the Côte d'Azur Observatory (OCA), before expanding in 2020 to include IRD, Inserm, and INRAE.

This scaling up corresponds to the University’s transition to a “grand établissement” and the central role of Europe in its strategy. The effects are immediate: funding is increasing, projects are diversifying, and momentum is building.

Several factors explain this progress. On the one hand, the IdEx and the status of a major research institution have made it possible to attract top-tier researchers, particularly those with strong track records in ERC calls. On the other hand, the IdEx, through the CEM, has established effective, flexible, and incentivizing support mechanisms for the development and success of projects. This is the case, for example, with the LEADEuRope program, which supports the development of European research trajectories.

This momentum is part of a broader trend of continuous improvement in support mechanisms led by various governing bodies, as exemplified by the creation, also in 2020, of the Maison de l’Europe et des Territoires at Université Côte d’Azur. More recently, in 2023, the UniCAccelerator project, funded under the ASDESR France 2030 call for proposals, enables laboratories to expand their human resources dedicated to the support phase and to further professionalize these efforts.

As a result, between 2020 and 2024, more than 59 million euros in ERC funding was secured, bringing the cumulative total to over 127 million euros. This period marks an increase of nearly 70% in average annual funding compared to previous years. With more than 230 European projects secured since 2015 and over 150 million euros in funding obtained during the 2015–2025 period, laboratories in the French Riviera are actively contributing to the momentum of the European Research Area.

This growth is part of a comprehensive and structured European strategy. Université Côte d’Azur is notably a member of the European Ulysseus alliance, one of the university’s two strategic projects, and participates in influential networks such as the EU Science Diplomacy Alliance. It is also involved in key initiatives such as the EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and the European digital innovation hub Move2Digital. In 2025, the opening of an office in Brussels, hosted by the Permanent Representation of the South Region—Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur—will further expand this presence and strengthen its position at the European level.

Finally, this momentum will also be highlighted during the celebration of the CEM’s 10th anniversary on June 17 at the Valrose campus, which will bring together all of the Côte d’Azur’s research partners: Inria, IRD, OCA, Inserm, CNRS, Université Côte d’Azur, INRAE, and the Nice University Hospital.