French research is conducted everywhere in France. It is also frequently conducted outside of the country: it is conducted at more than 250 locations around the world.
French research in France
A major portion of French research is performed in Paris and the surroundings. The Paris region is also the leading European region for research and innovation. Nonetheless, the other regions in France are also home to a large number of researchers and research laboratories.
Universities, Initiatives d’Excellence (IDEX- excellence Initiatives), laboratoires d’excellence (LABEX - Excellence Laboratories), competitiveness clusters, etc. The map below shows the sites devoted to research in Metropolitan France.
French research abroad
French research has been conducted abroad since the 19th century, with the creation of the Instituts Français de Recherche à l’Etranger (IFRE - French Institutes of Research Abroad) and French international schools. Since then, this international presence has never stopped developing. Today, there are 27 IFRE and five French schools located abroad.
Conducted at more than 250 locations outside France, French research is a major player in international research. The Pasteur Institute, in particular, is at the heart of a network of 33 institutes in 26 countries. The CNRS has 34 Unités Mixtes Internationales (UMI - International Mixed Units) administered in partnership with local research institutes.
The Pasteur Institute, CNRS, INRIA, IRD, CIRAD, INRA, INSERM, IFRE and French schools: all of the international sites where French research is conducted are displayed on the map below.
