FRENCH RESEARCH LANDSCAPE

Public research is carried out mainly in universities, along with 26 national organisations (such as CNRS, INSERM, INRAE, CEA or INRIA), private foundations (Institut Pasteur and Institut Curie). Most French research is undertaken within the frame of joint units called a “UMR” (Unités Mixtes de Recherche or Joint Research Units). A UMR brings together researchers, faculty members, engineers and technicians from several institutions (including universities, schools and national research organisations) to work on a joint scientific theme. UMRs are the basic building blocks of French public research.

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The organisation of research in France is based on the French Research Programming Act, adopted in 2020. It aims to : 

• Place France at the forefront of global scientific research to meet the challenges of tomorrow

• Enhance the attractiveness of scientific careers

• Disseminate research to society and the economy 

• Simplify day-to-day life for staff and laboratories.

With a 10-year program, the act intends to take into account the intrinsically long timeframe of research, by giving laboratories more time and visibility. It provides a coherent and sustainable framework for the reforms undertaken to leverage the effects of public investment in research. It also prepares a framework that is perfectly in tune with the Horizon Europe program launched in 2021. Finally, it aims to identify the major research programs conducted to meet the nation's needs, while giving pride of place to fundamental research, which pushes back the frontiers of knowledge.

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The MESR is involved in drawing up the National Research Strategy (S.N.R.), which aims to respond to scientific, technological, environmental and societal challenges by maintaining a high level of fundamental research and to meet Europe's priorities. It has defined ten major challenges:

• Sober resource management and adaptation to climate change,

• Clean, safe and efficient energy,

• Stimulating industrial renewal,

• Health and well-being,

• Food security and the demographic challenge,

• Sustainable mobility and urban systems,

• Information and communication society,

• Innovative, inclusive and adaptive societies,

• A space ambition for Europe,

• Freedom and security for Europe, its citizens and residents.​​

In 2020, France has invest 2.28% ​of GDP (52.8 billions euros, almost AUD 86.5 billions) in research, development and innovation, a figure that is set to rise over the coming years.

PRINCIPAL FRENCH RESEARCH ACTORS

• ​Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS - National Centre for Scientific Research): one of the world's leading research organisations in all scientific fields, with 28,000 researchers in 1,100 research laboratories. The CNRS is the world's 2nd largest research organisation in terms of scientific publications.​ CNRS Website

• Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD - National Research Institute for Sustainable Development): supports an original model of equitable scientific partnership and interdisciplinary, citizen, sustainability science committed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. IRD Website

• Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment): aims to use research, innovation, and support for public policies as tools to guide the emergence of sustainable agricultural and food production systems and to carry out science dedicated to life, humans, and the Earth. INRAE Website

• Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM - National Institute of Health and Medical Research): is dedicated to biomedical research and human health, and is involved in the entire range of activities from the laboratory to the patient’s bedside. INSERM Website

• Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES - National Centre for Space Studies): is a programmatic agency, field centre and space operator encompassing all of the functions required to shape and execute the French government’s space strategy, and to deploy public policies that rely on the space sector (land management, agriculture, health, telecommunications, natural disasters, defence, etc.). CNES Website

• Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique (INRIA - National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology): since January 2024 has been responsible for the Digital Programs Agency, designed to strengthen the collective dynamics of higher education and research. As a technology institute, it supports a wide range of innovation paths: from open source software publishing to the creation of technology startups. INRIA Website

• Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER - French National Institute for Ocean Science and Technology): integrated marine sciences research institute that contributes to national research and innovation, as well as to the European research landscape. IFREMER dedicates its efforts to high-quality research founded on diverse disciplines and topics by drawingon its partnerships with universities and research institutes. IFREMER Website

• Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique (CEA - French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission): has adopted a very unique approach in the research and innovation sector, based on 5 pillars: Its historical role in France's defence and national security strategy; Its ground-breaking strategy in research and innovation through its study of the atom; Its capacity to handle projects, from the fundamental discovery of a concept through to its development; Its strong support of start-ups that drive the development of breakthrough innovations; Its local presence in different regions, its open-minded approach, and its cooperative spirit. CEA Website

• Centre de coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD - Agricultural Research Centre for International Development): works with its partners to build knowledge and solutions and invent resilient farming systems for a more sustainable, inclusive world. It mobilizes science, innovation and training in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. It focuses on tropical and Mediterranean regions. CIRAD Website

• Foundations: Institut Pasteur, French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms, diseases, and vaccines (website) and Institut Curie, French foundation for cancer research that fight against cancer thanks to an hospital, with the best experts, an internationally-renowned Research Centre and 3,800 doctors, caregivers and researchers (website).

• French Universities, schools and institutes: 59 universities and 69 schools and institutes are active part of the French research sector (list).​