GPR BRAIN_2030 confirmed until 2029

Source: www.u-bordeaux.fr (In french)

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The University of Bordeaux has approved the continuation of all seven of its “Grands Programmes de Recherche” (GPR) for a second phase. These programs, which are key drivers of the institution’s scientific strategy, will be rolled out over four more years, with enhanced ambitions in terms of excellence and impact.

In September 2021, the University of Bordeaux certified seven GPR, large-scale interdisciplinary projects of international scope, each focused on a major scientific challenge, including BRAIN_2030, for which Bordeaux Neurocampus is the lead department. BRAIN_2030’s overall objective for the coming decade is to build on the excellence and synergy of Bordeaux’s neuroscience teams to increase our understanding of how the brain works and its pathologies, from molecules to behavior. It is led by Daniel Choquet, Director of Research at the CNRS, Team Leader at the IINS, and Director of the BIC.

Designed to run for eight years, in line with the university’s strategy for 2030, these programs underwent their scheduled mid-term evaluation this year, in 2025. This evaluation process took place between January and July 2025, involving three international experts for each program, tasked with analyzing their trajectory, governance, future roadmap, results, and more. Based on the evaluators’ reports and the responses from the GPR management teams, a consensus report was drafted and submitted to the university’s Impact Research Operational Thematic Committee (CTO), which proposed the continuation of the seven GPRs from January 1, 2026, until 2029. This decision was validated by the institution’s Executive Management Committee, chaired by the university president.

Enhanced momentum

Public investment aimed to have a real leverage effect in 2021: for every euro committed, the goal was to generate at least one more through additional public or private funding. This goal has been more than achieved at the university, as since their launch, the GPRs have demonstrated their ability to attract new funding.

For the BRAIN_2030 GPR, out of the €8.2 million invested in the first phase (2021-2025), they generated nearly €74.1 million in additional funding (ANR, Region, and Europe, etc.), i.e., nine times more.

The program has also enabled the recruitment of 116 people on fixed-term contracts and the funding of 11 master’s internships.

See you on November 21

To find out more about the results of the BRAIN_2030 GPR and the projects for the next four years, join us this Friday, November 21, for the third edition of the GPR’s scientific day. In the morning, working groups will meet to discuss new cross-disciplinary areas of focus. The afternoon, open to the entire university community, will provide an opportunity to present an assessment of the GPR’s first years and define the direction for the next four years.

Find out more about GPR

Article on www.u-bordeaux.fr:
The seven major research programs confirmed until 2029

Contacts

Daniel Choquet
GPR leader

Julia Goncalves
GPR Project manager

+33 (0)5 33 51 47 82