The CNRS Institutes
Within the CNRS Research Office (DGDS), the CNRS Institutes are the structures that implement the institution’s scientific policy, and oversee as well as coordinate the activities of laboratories.
The ten CNRS Institutes cover more or less extensive scientific fields, share projects, and promote cooperation between disciplines. They are directed by specialists in their domains who come from either the CNRS or the universities. The Institutes collaborate closely with functional departments on the following issues:
- international policy,
- site policy,
- technology transfer and innovation,
- scientific and technical information.
Institute of Chemistry (INC)
The INC’s mission is to develop and coordinate research involving the development of new compounds, the understanding of chemical reactivity and prediction of the relations between the structure of molecules at the atomic level and the properties of these molecules.
Research areas
- Chemistry of and for the living (exploration and development of new models and tools for pharmacology, biotechnology, medicine, cosmetics, the agri-food and agrochemical industries)
- Green chemistry and sustainable development (creating new and cheaper chemical reactions that are also more effective, selective, and secure)
- Functionalisation of matter (design and monitoring of material properties, especially for energy, and the development of nanochemistry)
Institute of Ecology and Environment (INEE)
The INEE’s mission is to develop and coordinate research in the fields of ecology and the environment, including biodiversity and human-environment interactions.
Research areas
- Ecology
- Biodiversity
- Impact of global change
- Health-environment
- Resources
- Chemical ecology and environmental chemistry
Institute of Physics (INP)
The INP’s mission is to develop and coordinate research in physics, with two primary objectives: to understand the world and to respond to the challenges facing society today. The INP laboratories are centered around two main fields:
- Fundamental laws, optics and lasers
- Condensed matter physics and nanoscience
Institute of Biological Sciences (INSB)
The INSB’s mission is to develop and coordinate research in biology that seeks to understand the complexity of the living, from atoms to biomolecules, and from the cell up to complete organisms and populations.
Research areas
- Structural biology
- Bioinformatics
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive science
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Cellular biology
- Microbiology
- Physiology
- Plant biology
- Systems biology
- Biodiversity
Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (INSHS)
The INSHS’s mission is to develop research on human beings, both as producers of language and knowledge, and as economic, social, and political actors.
Research areas
- Cultures and societies in history
- Human beings, societies, and the environment
- Behaviour, cognition, and communication
- Contemporary worlds
Institute for Engineering and Systems Sciences (INSIS)
The mission of the INSIS is to ensure the continuum between basic research, engineering, and technology by promoting a “systems” approach through the development of the disciplines central to the Institute.
Research areas
- Sciences and technologies related to automation, signals, and electronic and photonic systems
- Sciences and technologies covering mechanics, energy, and processes
National Institute for Mathematical Sciences and their Interactions (INSMI)
The INSMI’s mission is to develop and coordinate research in different branches of mathematics, ranging from its basic aspects to its applications. It also helps structure the French mathematical community and integrate it into the international scientific landscape.
Research areas
- The different domains of mathematics
- Mathematical modeling and simulation
- Interface with other scientific disciplines
- Interactions with companies and society
National Institute for Earth Sciences and Astronomy (INSU)
The INSU’s mission is to create, develop, and coordinate national and international research in astronomy and Earth sciences, as well as ocean, atmospheric, and space sciences.
Research areas
- Oceanography
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Climatology
- Hydrology
- Volcanology
- Seismology
- Environment
- Planetary science
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
Institute for Information Sciences and Technologies (INS2I)
With the dual objective of both conducting and supporting research, the Institute organises and develops projects in computer science and digital technology. One of its primary goals is to make these two research areas a central part of multi- and interdisciplinary issues, along with information science, in particular through its partnership with the INSIS and the CNRS’s interdisciplinary tools.
National Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics (IN2P3)
The IN2P3’s mission is to develop and coordinate research in the field of nuclear physics, particle physics, and astroparticles.
Research areas
- Particle physics
- Quark-gluon plasma and hadronic physics
- Nuclear physics and astrophysics
- Astroparticle physics
- Neutrino physics and astrophysics
- Research and development of accelerators
- Computing grids and data science
- Nuclear applications for the health, energy, and environment sectors
