Chemistry is the art of assembling atoms to create molecules and materials of the future. Therefore it is in direct contact with our daily lives. Chemists from laboratories that the CNRS Institute of Chemistry (INC) steers with its academic and industrial partners are advancing knowledge both in France and abroad. Notably, their results lead to Nobel prizes in fundamental research, or are rewarded by other distinctions in more applied fields. The INC has many patents and start-ups and is regularly illustrated in development and innovation through new products and processes.
By definition, chemistry lies at the interface of many disciplines, such as biology, physics, ecology, engineering, etc. because it studies matter and its transformation. INC research units are in a position to develop new tools that their partners will need. It is thus natural that the INC carries out its scientific policy with the other Institutes and the CNRS interdisciplinary Mission.
To implement this policy, the INC mobilizes its resources (personnel, laboratories, financial resources) to serve the research community in chemistry and beyond.
The CNRS Institute of Chemistry (INC) has more than 148 laboratories that federate approximately 13,600 people employed by the CNRS and its partners: researchers, lecturers, engineers, technicians and administrators. The INC researchers are mainly attached to 6 disciplinary sections of the national committee for scientific research, an evaluation body with which the INC interacts closely. Furthermore, the INC benefits from the help and advice of its scientific council, which is regularly involved in the development of the Institute's policy.
The laboratories attached to the CNRS Institute of Chemistry (INC) are built on the model of a partnership with academic actors, various research organizations and firms, around common scientific projects.
This structuring leads the INC to work in consultation with universities, high-quality engineering schools, organizations such as the CEA, Inserm or Inra, but also with industry. Partnerships with foreign establishments are one of the foundation stones of its international policy.
In agreement with its partners, the CNRS Institute of Chemistry (INC) structures its laboratories in a wide variety of legal forms, adapted to different challenges: mixed research units (UMR), international mixed units (UMI), mixed service units (UMS), intramural service units (UPS), etc.
The laboratories can themselves group together within different structures to better benefit from the complementarity of their work and to share equipment and/or research. Research federations (FR), service groupings (GDS), groups of research (GDR), scientific interest groups (GIS), etc. interact closely.
Source: Zento 2022
The CNRS Institute of Chemistry (INC) promotes fundamental research, a source of knowledge and applications from the perspective of design, theory, modelling, synthesis, analysis and industrial processes. Identifying emerging subjects and fostering the creative nature of the discipline is one of the central elements of its policy. However, the Institute is also keen to support outstanding actions and strategic knowledge.
To guide his/her work, a researcher must establish the state of the art in his/her field and at the interfaces of other disciplines that share a common research aim. (S)he thus needs easy access to the most up-to-date scientific references. To guarantee scientists this broadest access to both publications and reference databases, the INC relies on the CNRS Institute for Scientific and Technical Information via a dedicated website.
The CNRS Institute of Chemistry (INC) communication concerns the news of its laboratories and distributes this to the general public, industry and other research stakeholders.
The INC communicates through the CNRS media: CNRS Le Journal, the CNRS News webzine (for the international community), the CNRS Innovation letter (intended for industrialists), the letter Live from the labs (intended for the press). Generic media such as press releases, the website and social networks enrich this communication, as do public events (CNRS Forum, Horizon Chemistry Forum, Chemistry Village) and those intended for industry and the scientific community.
The protection of personnel, facilities and the laboratory environment is a matter of great concern for the INC which supports the improvement of safety in research units through fundraising campaigns for the purchase of new safety equipment, the maintenance of existing equipment and ensuring facilities are secure. These actions are managed annually by the INC in collaboration with the prevention and safety engineers of the CNRS's regional delegations.
Furthermore, the INC coordinates the activities of the "Chemical Risk Prevention" service unit. This unit makes an important contribution on products and chemical processes used or generated in laboratories of all disciplines in terms of expertise and advice, training and information. Its actions and recommendations of a scientific, technical and regulatory nature are addressed to the scientific community and its public and private partners.
