Artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology are rapidly growing fields, offering groundbreaking opportunities for innovation. AI is transforming science and technology, and its integration into biotechnology is driving significant advancements.
To support this transformation, the French National Research Agency (ANR) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea are launching the 1st call for proposals focused on AI-driven biotechnology research.
The goal of this call is to foster collaboration between French and Korean researchers to explore AI applications in biotechnology. The funded projects should:
Demonstrate strong synergy between research teams in both countries.
Show real integration of joint efforts and complementary expertise in AI and biotechnology.
Ideally have the same start and end dates for both French and Korean partners.
The standard project duration is 36 months. In cases where PhD students are involved, the project duration may be extended, but no additional funding will be provided.
2. Research Areas
AI is revolutionizing biotechnology by enabling the analysis of large and complex biological datasets, such as genomic sequencing, biomedical imaging, and biological simulations. AI-driven tools, including machine learning and deep neural networks, allow researchers to:
Model biological systems and predict behaviors.
Identify hidden patterns in vast datasets.
Accelerate research processes in areas like drug discovery and industrial bioprocess optimization.
Integrate diverse data sources (genetic, clinical, environmental) for a comprehensive analysis.
Recent advances in high-performance computing and collaborative data-sharing platforms are further strengthening the role of AI in biotechnology, fostering an environment of innovation.
Eligible research themes include, but are not limited to:
Bioinformatics & Genomics
Personalized Medicine
Precision Agriculture
Drug Discovery & Development
3. Project Overview
[Project Details]
Proposal Type: Open call for proposals
Project Type: Joint research
Research Area: AI-based bio-related research
Project Duration: 3 years (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028)
French research period: September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2028
Funding Scale:
Up to 5 projects will be selected.
Maximum funding per project: KRW 270 million per year
Total research period: 36 months
Maximum funding per project over the full period: KRW 810 million
[Funding Breakdown]
Year
Duration
Maximum Funding (KRW)
1st Year
6 months (2025.7.1. – 2025.12.31.)
135 million
2nd Year
12 months (2026.1.1. – 2026.12.31.)
270 million
3rd Year
12 months (2027.1.1. – 2027.12.31.)
270 million
4th Year
6 months (2028.1.1. – 2028.6.30.)
135 million
4. Application
Category
Period
PI Submission & Host Institution Review/Approval
February 13, 2025 (Thu) 09:00 – May 7, 2025 (Wed) 18:00
* For further details regarding required documents and evaluation criteria, please refer to the official RFP guidelines.