As announced in the Point Com’ of 17 January, the LPR (Loi de Programmation pour la Recherche – research programming law) provides for a new compensation scheme for teaching staff and researchers.

The implementation of this new compensation scheme was established by the Decree 2021-1895 of 29 December 2021. It is now a single compensation scheme for Teachers and Researchers, and is intended to replace the old compensation schemes.

The compensation scheme specified by the decree comprises three components: two allowances and a bonus, i.e.:

  • A “C1” grade-related statutory allowance
  • A “C2” functional allowance
  • A “C3” individual bonus

Statutory allowance (C1)

This allowance is paid in accordance with an annual scale by grade to persons who exercise a position of activity or delegation. As of 2022, it replaces the current Prime de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur (PRES – research and higher education grant) awarded to teachers and researchers.

After an initial revaluation in 2021, the order of 29 December 2021 brings the statutory portion for 2022 to €2,800 for all staff concerned. By 2027, this compensation component will gradually be increased to €6,400 per year.

It is now paid on a monthly basis (as of March 2022 for Centrale Lille).

Functional allowance (C2)

This allowance is linked to certain specific functions and responsibilities, in addition to the service requirements of teachers-researchers, as opposed to the baseline for activities that may be taken as a discharge.

The amount of this compensation is capped by groups of functions or the level of responsibilities carried out.

This allowance may correspond to the fulfilment of a temporary assignment.

  • The functions and responsibilities concerned are determined by decision of the head of the institution.
  • When the beneficiary of this allowance performs functions or responsibilities that fall within several groups of functions, he or she benefits from the upper limit applicable to the highest group of functions.
  • For teachers-researchers, this component is paid for functions or responsibilities that are performed in addition to their service requirements.

Individual bonus (C3)

The individual bonus is linked to the quality of the activities and the professional commitment of the agents. To receive this bonus – which replaces the PEDR (Prime d’Encadrement Doctoral et de Recherche – doctoral supervision and research bonus) on 1 January 2022, teachers-researchers must apply to their institution and submit an activity report. It will be assessed by distinguishing between the:

  • educational investment,
  • quality of the scientific activities,
  • investment in tasks of general interest,

or for these three items combined.

The opinion issued by the restricted Board – either very favourable, favourable or reserved – will then be submitted to the opinion of the Director General of the competent section of the CNU. The application file, together with these two opinions, will then be forwarded to the Director General, who will decide on the individual awarding of the bonus: individual amount and reason for the award (educational investment, scientific activity or tasks of general interest).

All of this applies within the limit of an allocation granted for this purpose by the French Minister of Higher Education.

The bonus is awarded for a period of 3 years. During this period, beneficiaries may not submit another individual bonus application. At the end of the award period, a new individual bonus may not be requested for the same reason before one year. This waiting time is cancelled if the bonus is requested and allocated for a different reason (educational investment, scientific activity or tasks of general interest).

The budget for individual bonuses (C3) is limited to 30% of the budget for the statutory component (C1). The allowance is paid on a monthly basis and may be between €3,500 and €12,000 (annual amount).

All individual PEDR award decisions made prior to January 1, 2022 will continue to be effective until the end of their original term. Beneficiaries will not be able to apply for an individual bonus until one year after this period.

Maintaining of the PEDR: Teachers-researchers in delegation to the IUF, winners of honours specified in the 3rd and 4th paragraphs of Article 1 of the decree of 8 July 2009, or those making an exceptional contribution to research will continue to receive the PEDR.

The first RIPEC C3 individual bonus award campaign – 2022 campaign – will be open from 3 March 2022 (10 am) to 31 March 2022 (4 pm). Details will be provided in the next Point Com.