French hosting program for scientists and artists in exile (PAUSE Program)

What French hosting program for scientists and artists in exile (PAUSE Program) does

PAUSE (Programme d'Accueil en Urgence des Scientifiques et Artistes en Exil) is a French national humanitarian programme launched in January 2017 and hosted by the Collège de France in Paris. It provides emergency co-funding to French higher education, research, and cultural institutions that host at-risk scientists and artists forced into exile from outside the European Union. The programme serves two co-primary beneficiary groups — foreign researchers (doctoral students through full professors) and artists (since 2021) — whose lives, freedom, or careers are threatened by war, persecution, or political violence, while its operational customers are the 142 French partner institutions that submit applications, host laureates, and co-fund 50% of hosting budgets.

The core product is a structured co-funding programme delivered through three annual application calls plus emergency procedures. Funding tiers are capped at €20,000 (doctoral students/research assistants), €40,000 (postdoctoral researchers/lecturers), €60,000 (university professors), and €30,000 (artists), with PAUSE contributing up to 50% of total hosting budget for periods up to one year, renewable once. Underlying technology is a secure online application and reporting platform (plateforme-pause.college-de-france.fr), a candidate matching service that distributes anonymous profiles to partner institutions, and a training-needs assessment system allocating a €5,000 professional development budget per beneficiary. Adjacent products include the SAFE European fellowship consortium (launched September 2024), the RESTRICA photographic documentation project, and professional integration support delivered via partnerships with ABG, APEC, EURAXESS, and SINGA.

PAUSE is funded by an unusual multi-source model: core government endowment from four French ministries (Higher Education and Research, Europe and Foreign Affairs, Interior, Culture), individual and corporate donations channelled through the Fondation de France with 60–66% tax deductibility, and foundation grants including L'Oréal Foundation and Open Society Foundations. Its go-to-market combines event-driven annual calls, a community-led network of 142 partner institutions and European consortia (SAFE, InSPIREurope+), and advocacy/policy engagement. Pricing is not commercial: PAUSE does not generate revenue but disburses grants, with operating costs covered separately by the multi-source funding base.

Name

French hosting program for scientists and artists in exile (PAUSE Program)

Legal name

Programme d'Accueil en Urgence des Scientifiques et Artistes en Exil (PAUSE)

Website

https://programmepause.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PAUSE is a French national humanitarian programme hosted by the Collège de France since 2017 that provides emergency co-funding to French higher education, research, and cultural institutions hosting at-risk scientists and artists forced into exile from outside the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Refugee Hosting Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

akta.pro primary industry

Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ)

Keywords

• Academic refugee hosting
• Scholar emergency program
• Artist exile support
• Academic freedom advocacy
• At-risk researcher protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Core funding from French Ministry for Higher Education and Research, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Culture. Initial endowment of €1 million from Ministry for Higher Education and Research in 2017.
2. Private Donations: Individual donations through Fondation de France (tax-deductible). Corporate sponsors and partners provide financial support. Tax benefits: 66% deduction for income tax, 60% for corporate tax.
3. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including L'Oréal Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and others supporting academic freedom initiatives
4. Co-funding Model: PAUSE provides up to 50% co-funding for hosting projects, requiring host institutions to contribute the remaining 50% of budget

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

PAUSE provides emergency hosting and co-funding for at-risk scientists and artists in exile, enabling them to continue their research and artistic work in French higher education, research, and cultural institutions. The programme operates through three annual calls for applications plus emergency procedures, matches at-risk candidates with French host institutions, and provides professional integration support including a €5,000 training budget per beneficiary. Co-funding covers up to 50% of hosting budgets, with tiered amounts up to €60,000 for professors and €30,000 for artists.

Product overview

The PAUSE (Programme d'Accueil en Urgence des Scientifiques et Artistes en Exil) Programme is a national French humanitarian initiative hosted by the Collège de France since 2017, providing emergency hosting and co-funding for at-risk scientists and artists in exile. The core offering is a co-funding programme for French higher education, research, and cultural institutions to host at-risk foreign researchers and artists, operating through three annual calls for applications and an online submission platform. Since 2021, the programme expanded to include artists. The programme also operates the SAFE European fellowship initiative and the RESTRICA photographic documentation project, and provides professional integration support through partnerships with ABG, APEC, and SINGA. Funding is raised through individual and corporate donations managed via the Fondation de France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAFE: Supporting At-risk researchers with Fellowships in Europe - a European project providing fellowships for 60 scientists at risk to pursue their work in Europe
• InSPIREurope+
• RESTRICA

Products and services

• PAUSE Programme Core Hosting Co-Funding Co-funding programme for French higher education, research, and cultural institutions to host at-risk scientists and artists in exile. Funding tiers range up to €20,000 for doctoral students and research assistants, €40,000 for postdoctoral researchers and lecturers, €60,000 for university professors, and €30,000 for artists. PAUSE co-funding is capped at 50% of the total budget presented by the host institution, for hosting periods of up to one year, renewable once.
• At-Risk Candidate Matching and Referral Service PAUSE maintains a list of at-risk scientists and artists seeking host institutions and facilitates connections between candidates and French host institutions by sharing anonymous candidate profiles with partner institutions. The service includes support from EURAXESS France and the acc&ss network.
• Professional Integration Support Provides laureates with up to €5,000 per person for training in language skills (French and scientific English), academic skills, and career planning. The programme also partners with ABG (Association Bernard Gregory), APEC, and SINGA for employment support, entrepreneurship incubation through The Human Safety Net, and sector integration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 680 scientists and artists supported since 2017 from over 40 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024SAFE (Supporting At-risk researchers with Fellowships in Europe) project coordinator. DAAD leads this European consortium providing 60 fellowships for scientists at risk to pursue work in Europe.
• Campus FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAFE project consortium partner. Campus France promotes French higher education abroad and welcomes foreign researchers to France.
• Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAFE project consortium partner. UNIMED brings together 160+ higher education institutions across 28 Mediterranean countries to promote academic cooperation.
• Scholars at Risk EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInSPIREurope+ consortium coordinator at Maynooth University, Ireland. European network protecting scholars and upholding academic freedoms.
• Alexander von Humboldt FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInSPIREurope+ partner and initiator of Philipp Schwartz Initiative for hosting at-risk researchers in Germany.
• European University Association (EUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInSPIREurope+ partner representing European universities and supporting at-risk researcher initiatives.
• University of GothenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInSPIREurope+ partner contributing to European support network for at-risk researchers.
• Aristotle University of ThessalonikicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInSPIREurope+ partner in southeastern Europe working to support at-risk academics.
• Maynooth UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInSPIREurope+ coordinator, hosting Scholars at Risk Europe office and leading European initiatives for researchers at risk.
• Scholars at Risk NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network with national sections worldwide facilitating hosting of scholars at risk by university partners.
• Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded 1933, CARA helps at-risk academics forced into exile or choosing to stay despite risks, supporting institutions whose activities are compromised.
• Institute of International Education - Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1922, supports hosting of professors, researchers, and intellectuals whose lives and careers are threatened, providing one-year renewable scholarships.
• Artist Protection FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIE programme supporting artists at risk through artistic residencies at partner institutions worldwide.
• Artists at Risk Connection (ARC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEN America project protecting artistic freedom of expression, having helped 500+ artists from 63+ countries since 2017.
• Science in ExilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO-led initiative strengthening systems that support, protect, and integrate at-risk, displaced, and refugee scientists.
• EURAXESS FrancecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNon-profit network with 42 centres nationwide supporting mobile researchers with visas, residence permits, housing, social security, and job search assistance.
• Association Bernard Gregory (ABG)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSupports professional development of doctorate holders and facilitates PAUSE laureates' transition to employment through twice-yearly training sessions.
• Association pour l'Emploi des Cadres (APEC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides individual support with finding employment through workshops, training, and career planning for PAUSE laureates.
• MobiCulturecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerResource centre helping artists and culture professionals with legal, administrative, and practical aspects of coming to France.
• SINGAcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOffers personalized support for setting up businesses specifically for people in exile and forced migrants.
• The Human Safety NetminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIncubation program with SINGA helping refugee entrepreneurs set up businesses through training, coaching, workspace access, and funding.
• Atelier des artistes en exilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner accompanying artists in exile with their projects in France, helping identify host structures and providing support.
• Collège de FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramme host since 2017. Provides administrative and budgetary management, presided by Chairman of Collège de France.
• French Ministry for Higher Education and ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government backer providing institutional support and funding since programme launch.
• French Ministry of Europe and Foreign AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry supporting programme with diplomatic and financial resources for at-risk academic evacuation.
• French Ministry of InteriorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry supporting programme with residency and visa facilitation for beneficiaries.
• French Ministry of CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry supporting programme for artist beneficiaries and cultural institution partnerships.
• CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French research institution on Executive Committee, supporting programme governance and research hosting.
• INSERM (French National Institute of Health & Medical Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French medical research institution on Executive Committee supporting health-related researcher hosting.
• France UniversitéscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of French universities on Executive Committee, facilitating institutional participation in programme.
• French National Research Agency (ANR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided special funding mechanisms for Ukrainian scientists in collaboration with PAUSE emergency response.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Philipp Schwartz Initiative (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation): Germany's flagship programme for hosting researchers at risk, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and private donors, providing 24-month fellowships. Directly comparable to PAUSE in mandate, tier structure, and partnership with InSPIREurope+.
• Scholars at Risk Network: Global network of more than 600 higher-education institutions in 56 countries that arranges temporary positions for threatened scholars; directly comparable to PAUSE as both operate university-mediated hosting with advocacy components and partner networks. PAUSE coordinates the European side through Scholars at Risk Europe.
• Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA): CARA is the UK's longest-running organisation (founded 1933) helping academics forced into exile, with a near-identical mission to PAUSE: arranging temporary hosting at UK universities and providing crisis-response support to scholars whose lives and work are threatened. It is the closest international peer to PAUSE's scientist-hosting model.
• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): DAAD coordinates the SAFE European consortium alongside PAUSE and operates its own programmes for threatened researchers (e.g., Hilde Domin Programme). Comparable as a national-level academic exchange organisation delivering co-funded fellowships to at-risk and displaced scholars.
• Scholars at Risk Europe (Maynooth University): Coordinator of the InSPIREurope+ consortium in which PAUSE is a core partner; operates European-level academic-freedom advocacy and researcher-protection coordination. Directly comparable as the European-wide policy and convening layer that complements PAUSE's national French delivery.
• Artist Protection Fund (IIE): IIE's Artist Protection Fund provides artistic residencies at partner institutions worldwide for artists at risk — the closest US-based counterpart to PAUSE's artist hosting tier (up to €30K). It overlaps heavily with PAUSE's 2021-onwards artist programme and shares the IIE-SRF institutional umbrella.
• Artists at Risk Connection (ARC, PEN America): PEN America's ARC protects artistic freedom of expression and has helped 500+ artists from 63+ countries since 2017 — directly comparable to PAUSE's expanded artist-at-risk mandate (93 artists since 2021) and a natural partner/co-peer in the global artists-in-exile ecosystem.
• IIE-Scholar Rescue Fund: Since 2002, IIE-SRF has provided fellowships to professors, researchers, and intellectuals whose lives and careers are threatened, offering one-year renewable scholarships — functionally identical to PAUSE's grant tiers. Run by the Institute of International Education, it is the principal US counterpart.

Others

• Fondation de France: Manages PAUSE's donation fund under a tax-advantaged endowment structure and channels L'Oréal, Open Society, and individual contributions. Not a competitor but a critical enabling partner — comparable to other French philanthropic infrastructure used by humanitarian and academic-freedom programmes.

Emerging players

• Euraxess (European Commission): EU-funded researcher-mobility network present in 42+ countries (including EURAXESS France, which partners with PAUSE for visas and integration). Comparable in serving international researchers but focused on mainstream mobility rather than at-risk hosting — overlapping partner and adjacent rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/programmepause
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8JGydhcoueslmBP2C1yINQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/programme-national-pause

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about French hosting program for scientists and artists in exile (PAUSE Program)