In Lab Engineering

[Call for Proposals] - Published on January 27, 2026 in University-Industry Partnerships

What if technology platforms became innovation hubs open to collaboration with businesses?

The In Lab Engineering call for projects, launched by the University Innovation Hub, aims to support the sustainable development of the local economy by fostering collaborations with startups and SMEs.

Since 2023:

2023: 3 winning projects, each receiving €50,000 in funding
2024: 2 winning projects, €145,000 each
2025: 3 winning projects, same funding

Following a favorable recommendation from the PUI Executive Committee (COMEX), a final session will be held in 2026. These sessions are organized by the CNRS on behalf of the Montpellier PUI.

Objectives

Research platforms as catalysts for innovation

Research institutions can serve as catalysts for innovation by making their know-how and expertise available to businesses. The goal is to overcome technological barriers, strengthen businesses’ competitiveness, and develop sustainable business models that generate financial returns for research units and platforms.

A range of services tailored to small and medium-sized businesses

The Montpellier University Innovation Hub (PUI) offers a range of customized services designed to facilitate SMEs’ access to the expertise of research laboratories and to foster the creation of lasting partnerships between research institutions and businesses.

Establishment of Innovation Cells

Within laboratories and research institutions, innovation units may be established under the authority of directors, with a focus on financial sustainability. Platforms may also expand their staff when demand—particularly from the private sector—warrants it. The call for projects also extends to institutions wishing to recruit clinical research associates.

A Concrete Step Toward Engaging with Businesses

Proposed projects must demonstrate a concrete and sustainable opening of the platforms to businesses, as evidenced by an increase in the number of contracts signed with industrial partners over the course of the project.

Target audience

This program is intended for research units (UAR, UR, UMR), as well as technology platforms and service centers affiliated with the PUI’s research clusters and the departments of the FHU, the Montpellier and Nîmes University Hospitals, orthe Montpellier Cancer Institute, that are open to the socio-economic sector and charge fees.

The project must therefore be led by one of the founding members of the PUI.

Allocated Resources

Funding Allocation and Distribution

The total budget forthe In Lab Engineering call for proposals is €950,000 (excluding tax), spread over three funding rounds: 2024, 2025, and 2026.

For the third campaign (2026):

Funding period: up to 18 months, with the eligibility deadline set for March 14, 2028.
Amount: €124,000 (excluding tax) per project, broken down as follows:
- 1 fixed-term contract: up to a maximum of 112,000 €, including all benefits, for 18 months
- How it works: flat fee of 12,000 €

Terms and Conditions and Additional Information

The hiring for the fixed-term contract must take place in 2026.
It is also possible to apply for additional funding from the Occitanie Region through the PRIO call for projects.

Process

The organization identifies the PUI partner institution that will serve as the funding administrator, the employer of the platform engineer, and the administrator of the contracts secured by the engineer. This managing institution is the CNRS provided that it is the organization’s supervising body, unless another supervising body or institution has been delegated management authority for the organization’s contractual activities pursuant to existing agreements with one or more PUI partners. The organization’s scientific director must submit the completed and approved In Lab Engineering form to the Partnership and Commercialization Department of the managing institution for review and feedback no later than one week before the submission deadline.
A panel of four rapporteurs from COMIN evaluates the applications in accordance with the “Schedule” and the “evaluation procedures” outlined below.
The final decision on the award of the grant is made by COMIN in accordance with the schedule set forth in the “Schedule” section below.
The CNRS allocates funding to the organization whose project has been selected. If the CNRS is not the supervising authority, it transfers the funding to the designated supervising authority.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses are as follows:

expenses for non-permanent staff (engineer, clinical research associate, engineering assistant, or lab technician);
laboratory operations;
small equipment.

Assessment Criteria

Submitted projects are evaluated by four COMIN members serving as rapporteurs:

Two scientists working at a research platform
Two experts from the field of business development and innovation

They are responsible for analyzing the proposals, assessing their eligibility, and ranking the applications. These evaluations are then forwarded by the CNRS to COMIN, which makes the final decision on which projects will be selected.

COMIN brings together key players in the innovation ecosystem, including:

representatives of the PUI's founding institutions;
representatives from the recycling subsidiaries;
the directors of the research clusters, or their representatives;
invited scientific or technical experts, selected based on the projects being evaluated.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

the project's viability (out of 6 points);
the platform's ability to achieve financial stability by the end of the program period (out of 6 points);
the commitment to ensuring the initiative’s long-term sustainability beyond the funding program (out of 6 points);
the project's scope (0 to 2 bonus points).

Point to Watch For

State aid regulations require platforms to ensure that their economic activities do not exceed 20% of their total operations in order to qualify for a public aid rate exceeding 50%. This entails monitoring the platforms’ “economic ratio” by tracking machine usage time. Platforms must therefore be able to reliably report this data.

Application Package

The completed and signed AAP ILE 2026 application form.

Calendar

Launch of the call for proposals: January 30, 2026
Deadline for submitting applications: March 31, 2026
Announcement of results: May 2026

Project Implementation and Monitoring

At the conclusion of the project, a report will be presented to COMIN in written form.

This report, submitted by the management of the implementing entity, must specify, in particular:

The use of the funds provided, as documented in a detailed financial report outlining the expenses incurred;
The value of industrial contracts awarded as part of the project;
The platform's contribution to the scientific reputation of the institutions it serves.

In addition, one year after PUI funding ends, the organization will be asked to submit a follow-up report to COMIN to assess the program’s impact, particularly in terms of employment and the platform’s results.