French National Institute of Scientific Research

Founded in 1939, the CNRS is the largest basic research organization in France and Europe (similar in function to the Chinese Academy of Sciences).The CNRS consists of four thematic research departments: Mathematics, Information, Physics, and Earth and Cosmos, Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Humanities and Social Sciences; two transversal research departments: Environment and Sustainable Development, and Engineering; and two national research institutes: CNRS has more than 1,200 scientific institutions, of which more than 90% are mixed research units, especially with higher education institutions, of which 40 laboratories are open to the public, and 30 research groups have strong international links and 15 international joint laboratories.