CNRS in Brief

The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Center for Scientific Research) is a government-funded research organization under the administrative authority of France's Ministry of Research.

Facts...

Founded in 1939 by governmental decree, CNRS has the following missions:

• To evalulate and carry out all research capable of advancing knowledge and bringing social, cultural, and economic benefits to society
• To contribute to the application and promotion of research results
• To develop scientific information
• To support research training
• To participate in the analysis of the national and international scientific climate and its potential for evolution in order to develop a national policy

CNRS research units are spread throughout France, and employ a large body of permanent researchers, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff. Laboratories are all on
four-year, renewable contracts,  with bi-annual evaluations. There are two types of labs:
CNRS labs: fully funded and managed by CNRS
Joint labs: partnered with universities, other research organizations, or industry

As the largest fundamental research organization in Europe, CNRS is involved in all scientific fields, organized in the following areas of research:  

• Life sciences
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Computer science
• Earth Sciences and Astronomy
• Humanities and social sciences
• Environmental Sciences and
• Sustainable Development
• Engineering

CNRS conducts some twenty interdisciplinary programs. One major objective is to promote inter-disciplinarity in order to improve knowledge, ensure economic and technological development, or solve complex societal problems. They concern the following fields:

• Life and its social challenges
• Information, communication, and knowledge
• Environment, energy, and sustainable development
• Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials
• Astroparticles

The CNRS annual budget represents one-quarter of French public spending on civilian research. This funding comes from various sources:

• Government and public funding
• CNRS funds, primarily from industrial and EU research contracts and royalties on patents, licenses, and services provided.

... And Figures

Budget for 2008
€3.277 billion of which €588 million come from revenues generated by CNRS contracts

Personnel
31,239 employees:  11,677 researchers, 14,456 engineers and technical staff, and 5106 non permanent employees

Organization
> 1256 research units–90% are joint research laboratories with universities and industry
> €10.3 million devoted yearly to interdisciplinary research programs

Industrial Relations (2006)

• 471 contracts signed by CNRS with industry 
• 41 current agreements with major international industrial groups
• 2897 patents families
• 1138 licenses and other financially remunerating active acts in 2006
• €59.8 million in royalties
• 350 companies created from 1999 to 2006