'Fossilised' institute faces rejig

Europe's largest research institution, France's Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), faces its biggest reorganisation since it was established more than 65 years ago.

Bernard Larrouturou, its director-general, is pushing ahead with reforms adopted by the centre's governing board to improve cross-disciplinary co-operation and to strengthen the organisation's regional presence.

The centre has 26,000 employees and in 2004 had a budget of e2.2 billion (£1.5 billion). It has traditionally been seen as the jewel in the crown of French research but recently has been criticised as "fossilised", overcompartmentalised and bureaucratic.

Mr Larrouturou spent a year in extensive consultations, including meetings with laboratory heads, to gain agreement on essential points of the reforms.

Under the present system, the CNRS had accumulated too many roles, he said.

It needed to have a clearer vision of its work, to open up regionally, to develop European co-operation, to attract young researchers and to renew its partnerships with universities.

The plan, due to take effect next year, cuts the number of departments and creates five regional centres. A national strategic directorate will determine the CNRS science policy and co-ordinate the research carried out by six new departments. These are:

• Mathematics, computer science, physics, planetary and universe sciences
• Chemistry
• Life sciences
• Mankind and society
• Environment and sustainable development
• Engineering.

The reorganisation is taking place as the Government finalises its framework law on research, due to start next year. The legislation should be presented before the summer holidays and will create 3,000 new posts in 2006 and 2007.

Details: CNRS.fr"> CNRS.fr">www.CNRS.fr