# Institute of Scientific and Technical Information

> French research Institute

**Wikidata**: [Q3152021](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3152021)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institut_de_l'information_scientifique_et_technique)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/institute-of-scientific-and-technical-information

## Summary
The Institute of Scientific and Technical Information (INIST) is a French research institute operated under the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Located in Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France, the institute specializes in the fields of computer science and scientific information management. As of 2023, the organization employs 150 people and is currently directed by Claire François.

## Key Facts
- **Parent Organization:** National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)
- **Location:** Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France (Coordinates: 48.6556, 6.15028)
- **Director:** Claire François (since January 1, 2019)
- **Employees:** 150 (as of January 1, 2023)
- **CNRS Structure ID:** UAR76
- **Inception:** The parent organization, CNRS, was founded on October 19, 1939.
- **Industry:** Research and development in physical and natural sciences; Computer Science.
- **Website:** https://www.inist.fr/

## FAQs
### Q: What is the relationship between INIST and the CNRS?
A: INIST is a research institute that operates as a part of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), specifically under the Direction Générale Déléguée à la Science.

### Q: Where is the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information located?
A: The institute is located in Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.

### Q: Who is the current director of INIST?
A: Claire François has served as the director of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information since January 1, 2019.

## Why It Matters
The Institute of Scientific and Technical Information plays a critical role in the infrastructure of French scientific research. As a unit of the massive National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)—which employs over 31,000 people—INIST provides essential support in the management and dissemination of scientific data. By operating resources such as the Open Science Thesaurus and maintaining a focus on computer science, the institute helps standardize and democratize access to technical knowledge. Its work ensures that French research remains organized and accessible, bridging the gap between raw scientific output and usable information for researchers worldwide.

## Notable For
- **Open Science Advocacy:** Operates the Open Science Thesaurus, a trilingual resource for scientific terminology.
- **National Research Support:** Functions as a specialized unit (UAR76) within France's largest research organization.
- **Digital Infrastructure:** Maintains the `inist.fr` domain and various digital identifiers (ROR, GRID, ISNI) crucial for global academic visibility.
- **Workforce:** Maintains a focused team of 150 employees dedicated to information science and technology.

## Body

### Organizational Structure
The Institute of Scientific and Technical Information (INIST) is classified as a research institute. It functions as a distinct unit within the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Its immediate parent organization within the CNRS hierarchy is the Direction Générale Déléguée à la Science. The institute is officially identified within the French national research structure by the ID `198822446E` and holds the CNRS Research Group ID `UAR76`.

### Leadership and Personnel
As of January 1, 2023, the institute employs a staff of 150. The organization is led by Director Claire François, who assumed the position on January 1, 2019. The broader parent organization, CNRS, was founded on October 19, 1939, and is headquartered in Paris.

### Location and Facilities
INIST is physically located in the commune of Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy in France. The facility's precise coordinates are latitude 48.6556 and longitude 6.15028. An image of the facility is archived under the file `INIST-Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy-02.JPG` on Wikimedia Commons.

### Projects and Initiatives
The institute owns and operates the **Open Science Thesaurus** (Open Science Thesaurus [Thing]), a resource dedicated to open science terminology. This project was inception on July 5, 2021, and serves as a tool for standardizing scientific language in France.

### Digital and Academic Identifiers
INIST maintains a significant presence across various academic and digital platforms:
- **ROR ID:** 02mn0vt57
- **GRID ID:** grid.435241.5
- **ISNI:** 0000000123243361
- **HAL Structure ID:** 1814
- **LinkedIn:** inist-cnrs
- **Bluesky:** cnrs-inist.bsky.social
- **Mastodon:** InistCNRS@social.numerique.gouv.fr

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. [Source](https://www.inist.fr/nos-actualites/claire-francois-directrice-inist/)
3. [web page](https://www.inist.fr/qui/institut/)
4. [Source](https://n2t.net/e/pub/naan_registry.txt)
5. [Source](https://www.inist.fr/)
6. GRID Release 2015-12-14
7. French National Directory of Research Structures
8. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
9. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
10. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
11. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
12. [Internet Domains Wikibase](https://domains.wikibase.cloud/entity/Q225654)