INC: presentation of the Institute

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.

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

Drive and coordinate research, from the atom to material

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 facilitate access to scientific resources

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.

INIST

Communicate and develop results

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.

Ensure safety in its laboratories

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.

A unique CNRS laboratory!

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.

Preventing chemical risks

 

Organisation

Management

INC Director (1)

Management Assitant

Administrative Deputy Director (1)

Administrative Management Assistant

Organic and supramolecular chemistry - Life chemistry (1)

Scientific Deputy Director - Sections 12 et 16

Assistant

Molecular chemistry and reactivity - Physical and analytical chemistry - Theoretical chemistry (1)

Scientific Deputy Director - Sections 13 et 14

Assistant

Materials - Polymers - Soft matter (1)

Scientific Deputy Director - Sections 11 et 15

Assistant

International and industrial partnerships

Scientific Deputy Director

Scientific Deputy Directors

Organic and supramolecular chemistry - Life chemistry (5)

Sections 12 and 16

Project officer

Section 12

Project officer

Section 16

Project officer

Section 16

Science administration officer (CEAS)

Assistant

Molecular chemistry and reactivity - Physical and analytical chemistry - Theoretical chemistry (7)

Sections 13 and 14

Project officer

Section 13

Project officer

Section 13

Project officer

Section 14

Project officer

Project officer

Science administration officer (CEAS)

Assistant

Materials - Polymers - Soft matter (6)

Sections 11 and 15

Project officer

Section 11

Project officer

Section 15

Project officer

Section 15

Project officer

Science administration officer (CEAS)

Assistant

International and industrial partnerships (3)

* International business manager 50 %

* Valuation manager

Jurist

Scientific Delegates

Large research infrastructures (3)

IR data policy

Operational manager of research infrastructures

Assistant

Transverse scientific projects (1)

Assistant

Interdisciplinarity

Prospectives studies

Administrative Direction

Administrative Deputy Director (1)

Administrative Management Assistant

Legal Department (1)

Jurist

En remplacement temporaire de Maria Eugenia Gomez

Finances (1)

Budget Officer

Communication (4)

Communication Manager

Scientific Communication Advisor

Scientific officer for communication

Communication assistant

Temporary staff (1)

Temporary staff administrative monitoring

Training (1)

Project Officer - Training

Technical and scientific information (1)

Project Officer - Technical and scientific information

Prevention and safety (1)

Project Officer - Prevention and safety

Project Officers

Sections (9)

Section 11

Section 12

Section 13

Section 13

Section 15

Section 15

Section 16

Alliances (3)

Calculation and data

Science Communication

Europe (2)

European Partnership Officer

Europe Officer

Technical and Scientific Information

Prevention and safety