Structures of the CNRS Institute of Chemistry (INC)

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.

13 600 people in 148 laboratories

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.

Multi-partner laboratories

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.

A structure adapted to context

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.

Key figures for the INC

  • 5065 researchers and lecturers (of whom 1511 are from the CNRS)
  • 2974 engineers and technicians (of whom 1472 are from the CNRS)
  • 4244 PhD students and post-docs
  •   148 research units
  •     65 federative research structures
  • €28.5 million as the annual budget

Source: Zento 2022

  •     4 Nobel Prizes
  • 240 priority patents and 11 licenses exploited in 2022
  • 180 Start-ups