The France Star 2026 Program is a prestigious Franco-Korean research exchange initiative under the Hubert Curien Partnership (PHC). It is jointly coordinated and funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR) in France, while in South Korea, it is implemented by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) on behalf of the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).
This program aims to enhance scientific and technological collaboration between French and Korean research institutions, fostering new partnerships and supporting the mobility of young researchers and doctoral students.
Funding and Financial Support
The France Star 2026 Program provides annual funding for two (02) consecutive years, with a total grant between €16,000 and €19,000 per project, distributed as follows:
- €8,000 to €9,500 per year
- Funding covers mobility expenses (travel and subsistence allowances) for researchers
- Doctoral students receiving France Excellence scholarships are not eligible for additional support under this program.
Funding does not cover:
- Salaries for researchers
- Laboratory equipment and research operational costs
- Any additional project funding, which must be sourced independently.
Types of Projects Supported
The France Star 2026 Program encourages research projects that promote scientific and technological exchanges of excellence. Eligible research fields include:
- All scientific and technological disciplines
- Societal challenges and human & social sciences through a scientific and technological lens
- Future European projects, particularly under Horizon Europe.
Projects that contribute to long-term collaborations and have potential applications in European research networks will be given priority.
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Eligibility Criteria
Team Eligibility:
- Researchers must be affiliated with French higher education institutions or research organizations.
- Companies may participate in the project if partnered with an academic institution.
- Researchers who have previously received funding under this program must wait two years before reapplying.
- New collaborations will be prioritized.
- The active participation of young doctoral or postdoctoral researchers is mandatory.
- Applications must be submitted jointly by researchers in both France and South Korea.
Project Evaluation Criteria: Projects are evaluated separately by both countries before a final selection is made. Evaluation criteria include:
- Scientific excellence of the project
- Involvement of young researchers (doctoral/postdoctoral students)
- Collaborative benefits between French and Korean institutions
- Potential for long-term research structuring and European funding opportunities.
Apply: https://www.campusfrance.org/fr/star.
Application Timeline
- Application Submission Deadline: March 28, 2025 (before midnight French time)
- Results Announcement: July 2025 (via Campus France extranet)
- Notification of Funding Envelopes: January/February 2026
- Project Start Date: February 2026 (for French researchers) / October 2025 (for Korean researchers).
DATE . Mar/19/2025