The institutes

The institutes are structures aimed at implementing the organization's scientific policy. They are created at the initiative of the President of CNRS, following consultation of the Scientific Board and approval by the Board of Trustees. Institute directors contribute to defining CNRS's scientific policy and to specifying the details of its implementation.

Each institute oversees and coordinates a set of coherent research activities in several disciplines. Interdisciplinary research programs involving several institutes can be launched at the discretion of the President, following consultation of the Scientific Board and approval by the Board of Trustees.