French National Centre for Scientific Research

Last updated

Centre national de la recherche scientifique
Formation19 October 1939;84 years ago (1939-10-19)
Type Governmental organisation
Purpose Fundamental research
HeadquartersCampus Gérard Mégie, 16th arrondissement of Paris
Official language
French
President
Antoine Petit  [ fr ]
Main organ
Comité national de la recherche scientifique
Budget
3.8 billion (2021) [1]
Staff
33,000 (2021) [1]
Website www.cnrs.fr

The French National Centre for Scientific Research (French: Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS) is the French state research organisation [2] and is the largest fundamental science agency in Europe. [3]

Contents

In 2016, it employed 31,637 staff, including 11,137 tenured researchers, 13,415 engineers and technical staff, and 7,085 contractual workers. [4] It is headquartered in Paris and has administrative offices in Brussels, Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore, Washington, D.C., Bonn, Moscow, Tunis, Johannesburg, Santiago de Chile, Israel, and New Delhi. [5]

From 2009 to 2016, the CNRS was ranked No. 1 worldwide by the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR), an international ranking of research-focused institutions, including universities, national research centers, and companies such as Facebook or Google. [6] The CNRS ranked No. 2 between 2017 and 2021, then No. 3 in 2022 in the same SIR, after the Chinese Academy of Sciences and before universities such as Harvard University, MIT, or Stanford University. [7] The CNRS was ranked No. 3 in 2015 and No. 4 in 2017 by the Nature Index, which measures the largest contributors to papers published in 82 leading journals. [8] [9] [10] In May 2021, the CNRS ranked No. 2 in the Nature Index, before the Max Planck Society and Harvard University. [11]

Organization

The CNRS operates on the basis of research units, which are of two kinds: "proper units" (UPRs) are operated solely by the CNRS, and Joint Research Units (UMRs – French: Unité mixte de recherche) [12] are run in association with other institutions, such as universities or INSERM. Members of Joint Research Units may be either CNRS researchers or university employees (maîtres de conférences or professeurs). Each research unit has a numeric code attached and is typically headed by a university professor or a CNRS research director. A research unit may be subdivided into research groups ("équipes"). The CNRS also has support units, which may, for instance, supply administrative, computing, library, or engineering services.

In 2016, the CNRS had 952 Joint Research Units, 32 proper research units, 135 service units, and 36 international units. [4]

The CNRS is divided into 10 national institutes: [3]

The National Committee for Scientific Research, which is in charge of the recruitment and evaluation of researchers, is divided into 47 sections (e.g. Section 41 is mathematics, Section 7 is computer science and control, and so on). [13] Research groups are affiliated with one primary institute and an optional secondary institute; the researchers themselves belong to one section. For administrative purposes, the CNRS is divided into 18 regional divisions (including four for the Paris region).

Employment

Researchers who are permanent employees of the CNRS, equivalent to lifelong research fellows in English-speaking countries, are classified in two categories, each subdivided into two or three classes, and each class is divided into several pay grades. [14]

Scientist (chargé de recherches)Senior scientist (directeur de recherche)
Normal class (CRCN)Hors classe (CRHC)Second class (DR2)First class (DR1)Exceptional class (DRCE)

In principle, research directors tend to head research groups, but this is not a general rule (a research scientist can head a group or even a laboratory and some research directors do not head a group).

Employees for support activities include research engineers, studies engineers, assistant engineers and technicians. Contrary to what the name would seem to imply, these can have administrative duties (e.g. a secretary can be "technician", an administrative manager of a laboratory an "assistant engineer").

Following a 1983 reform, the candidates selected have the status of civil servants and are part of the public service.

Recruitment

All permanent support employees are recruited through annual nationwide competitive campaigns (concours). Separate competitives campaigns are held in each of the forty disciplinary fields covered by the institution and organized in sections. In the context of the competition, the section is made up of an eligibility jury, which reads the application files, selects some for the orals, holds the orals, and draws up a ranked list of potential candidates, submitted to the admission jury, which validates (or not) this ranking; the admission jury can make adjustments within this list. At the end of the admissions jury, the results are announced.

The competition is governed by very strict, well-defined legal rules, including the sovereignty and impartiality of the jury and the rules governing conflicts of interest: candidates are strictly forbidden to have any contact with a member of the jury, and no one may put pressure on the jury in any way whatsoever. If a member of the jury belongs to the candidate's family, he or she may not sit on the jury. The same applies if a candidate has worked extensively with one of the jury members over the past two years, or has a direct and regular relationship with him or her.

In 2020, the average age at recruitment was 33.9 years for chargés de recherche (research fellows), with wide variations between sections (in the humanities and social sciences, it was 36.3 years). [15]

In 2020, the average recruitment rate was 21.3 applicants for each single open position, again with variations to this rate between sections. The most competitive sections are usually Section 2 (theoretical physics), Section 35 (literature, philosophy and philology), Section 36 (sociology and law), and Section 40 (political science). In 2023, in Section 35, there were 158 applicants for four open positions, hence a recruitment rate of 2.53%. By comparison, Section 12 (molecular chemistry) received 33 applications for five open positions. [16]

History

The CNRS was created on 19 October 1939 by decree of President Albert Lebrun. Since 1954, the centre has annually awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals to French scientists and junior researchers. In 1966, the organisation underwent structural changes, which resulted in the creation of two specialised institutes: the National Astronomy and Geophysics Institute in 1967 (which became the National Institute of Sciences of the Universe in 1985) and the Institut national de physique nucléaire et de physique des particules (IN2P3; English: National Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics) in 1971.

Reform proposals

The effectiveness of the recruitment, compensation, career management, and evaluation procedures of CNRS have been under scrutiny. Governmental projects include the transformation of the CNRS into an organization allocating support to research projects on an ad hoc basis and the reallocation of CNRS researchers to universities. Another controversial plan advanced by the government involves breaking up the CNRS into six separate institutes. These modifications, which were again proposed in 2021 by think tanks such as the Institut Montaigne, [17] have been massively rejected by French scientists, leading to multiple protests. [18] [19] Important reforms were also recommended in the 2023 assessment report of the HCERES. [20]

Leadership

Past presidents

Past directors general

Past and current president director general (CEO)

Alain Fuchs was appointed president on 20 January 2010. His position combined the previous positions of president and director general.

Antoine Petit, current CEO of the CNRS Antoine Petit (cropped).jpg
Antoine Petit, current CEO of the CNRS

Notable people

Several of the French Nobel Prize winners were employed by the CNRS, particularly at the start of their careers, and most worked in university laboratories associated with the CNRS.

Nobel laureates in Physics

Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine

Nobel laureates in Chemistry

Fields Medal

Other distinctions

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">École centrale de Lyon</span> Research university in Lyon

The École centrale de Lyon (ECL) is a research university in greater Lyon, France. Founded in 1857 by François Barthélemy Arlès-Dufour in response to the increasing industrialization of France, it is one of the oldest graduate schools in France. The university is part of the Grandes Écoles, a prestigious group of French institutions dedicated to engineering, scientific research, and business education. The current 45-acre campus opened in 1967 and is located in the city of Ecully.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">École normale supérieure (Paris)</span> French "grande école" (ENS Paris)

The École normale supérieure – PSL is a grande école in Paris, France. It is one of the constituent members of Paris Sciences et Lettres University (PSL). Due to its special historical role, large endowment, and influence within French society, the ENS is generally considered the most prestigious of the grandes écoles. Its pupils are generally referred to as normaliens, while its alumni are generally referred to as archicubes.

ESPCI Paris is a prestigious grande école founded in 1882 by the city of Paris, France. It educates undergraduate and graduate students in physics, chemistry and biology and conducts high-level research in those fields. It is ranked as the first French École d'Ingénieurs in the 2017 Shanghai Ranking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Station biologique de Roscoff</span> French marine biology and oceanography research and teaching center

The Station biologique de Roscoff (SBR) is a French marine biology and oceanography research and teaching center. Founded by Henri de Lacaze-Duthiers (1821–1901) in 1872, it is at the present time affiliated to the Sorbonne University (SU) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Toulon</span>

The University of Toulon is a French university located in Toulon, France, and neighboring areas. It was founded in 1968 and is organized in 6 faculties, 2 autonomous institutes, an institute of business management and an engineering school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chimie ParisTech</span> Engineering school in Paris, part of PSL University

Chimie ParisTech, founded in 1896 within the University of Paris, is an engineering school and a constituent college of PSL Research University specialised in chemical science. It is located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris.

The Institut des molécules et de la matière condensée de Lille - IMMCL Chevreul is a physics and chemistry research institute. It is a member of the University of Lille.

A Public Scientific and Technical Research Establishment is a category of public research institutes. In France, they were authorized by Law No. 82-610 of 15 July 1982. In Algeria, they were authorized by decree No. 99-256 of 16 November 1999.

In France, a unité mixte de recherche (UMR), or joint research unit as translated into English, is an administrative type of research laboratory that is partially supported by CNRS and partially by other organizations or universities, in terms of funds, academic and non-academic staff, and other type of support.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toulouse School of Economics</span> School within Toulouse 1 University Capitol

Toulouse School of Economics is a school of economics, affiliated with Toulouse 1 Capitole University, a constituent college of the Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées. It is located in the city of Toulouse, France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institut Charles Sadron</span>

Institut Charles Sadron is a research center of the Centre national de la recherche scientifique, associated with the University of Strasbourg, which was created in 1954 to answer the demand for fundamental research in the emerging field of polymer science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris Sciences et Lettres University</span> French university created in 2019

Paris Sciences et Lettres University is a public research university based in Paris, France. It was established in 2010 and formally created as a university in 2019. It is a collegiate university with 11 constituent schools, with the oldest founded in 1530. PSL is located in central Paris, with its main sites in the Latin Quarter, at the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève campus, at the Jourdan campus, at Porte Dauphine, and at Carré Richelieu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CEA Paris-Saclay</span>

The CEA Paris-Saclay center is one of nine centers belonging to the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). Following a reorganization in 2017, the center consists of multiple sites, including the CEA Saclay site, the Fontenay-aux-Roses site and multiple sites in Paris, Évry, Orsay and Caen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Tabeling</span> French physicist

Patrick Tabeling is a French physicist, microfluidics pioneer in France, researcher at the École supérieure de physique et de chimie industrielles de la ville de Paris. He has published more than 200 articles in prestigious peer reviewed journals and his work has been cited more than 14000 times. He has been the director of the Pierre Gilles de Gennes Institute for Microfluidics (IPGG), an interdisciplinary research institution in Paris which regroups more than 300 expert researchers.

The Hubert Curien Pluridisciplinary Institute is a joint research unit of the French Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) and of the University of Strasbourg. It was formed by the voluntary association of three research laboratories at the University of Strasbourg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strasbourg Institute of Material Physics and Chemistry</span> Joint research unit in France

The Strasbourg Institute of Material Physics and Chemistry is a joint research unit between the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Strasbourg. It was founded in 1987 and is located in the district of Cronenbourg in Strasbourg, France.

Pierre Auger is a French bio-mathematician born on March 8, 1953, in Neuilly-sur-Seine. He is a member of the French Academy of sciences and Director of Exceptional Class Research at the Research Institute for Development. Pierre Auger's research field concerns the mathematical modelling of biological systems.

The prix Jaffé is a prize of the Institut de France awarded by nomination of the French Academy of Sciences. The award is financially supported by the Jaffé foundation of the Institute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institut de recherche en informatique fondamentale</span> French research institute in IT

The Institut de recherche en informatique fondamentale is a French research institute supporting advanced research in computer science. It is located in Paris. It is a public research institute in a partnership with the Université Paris Cité.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institut de recherche en informatique de Toulouse</span> Research institute in Toulouse

The Institut de recherche en informatique de Toulouse (IRIT) is a joint research unit in France, whose main site is located on the campus of Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier University in the Rangueil district of Toulouse, in Occitanie.

References

  1. 1 2 "CNRS Key figures". CNRS. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  2. Dorozynski, Alexander (November 1990). "The CNRS at 50. (Centre national de la recherche scientifique) (Salute to French Technology)". R&D. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013.
  3. 1 2 Butler, Declan (2008). "France's research agency splits up". Nature . 453 (7195): 573. Bibcode:2008Natur.453.....B. doi: 10.1038/453573a . PMID   18509403.
  4. 1 2 CNRS (2016). "2016 activity report" (PDF). cnrs.fr. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  5. Direction Europe de la recherche et coopération internationale. "Carte des bureaux". cnrs.fr. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  6. "Research and Innovation Rankings 2009". scimagoir.com. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  7. "Research and Innovation Rankings 2022". scimagoir.com. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  8. "Ten institutions that dominated science in 2015". 20 April 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  9. "10 institutions that dominated science in 2017". 12 June 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  10. "Introduction to the Nature Index" . Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  11. "Institution outputs". Nature Index. 23 November 2017.
  12. "INSMI – Institut national des sciences mathématiques et de leurs interactions – Joint Research Units (UMR)". CNRS. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  13. "CoNRS – Sections – Intitulés". cnrs.fr (in French). Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  14. "CNRS – Concours chercheurs – s'informer sur les concours". dgdr.cnrs.fr. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  15. "BILAN DE LA CAMPAGNE CHERCHEURS 2020" (PDF). epst-sgen-cfdt.org. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  16. "Classements d'admissibilité au concours CNRS 2023 | C3N – Coordination des responsables des instances du comité national". c3n-cn.fr.
  17. "The French Brief – Impetus for Reform: Higher Education and Research in France". Institut Montaigne.
  18. Everts, Sarah (2 June 2008). "Latest News – Scientists Protest in France". Chemical & Engineering News. 86 (22): 13. doi:10.1021/cen-v086n022.p013a . Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  19. Stafford, Ned (5 June 2008). "Chemists give cautious welcome for French science reforms". Chemistry World. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  20. "Publication of the assessment report of the CNRS". Hcéres. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  21. Chimie, Info (13 November 2017). "Anne Peyroche, présidente par intérim du CNRS – Info Chimie". industrie.com (in French). Retrieved 27 May 2018.