1967-1972 : the first steps of IRIA
At the end of 1964 and during 1965, a group of ten independent experts
chosen for their scientific or economic competence, was gathered at
the initiative of the French General Department for Scientific and Technological
Research (DGRST), under Professor Lelong's chairmanship. Their task
was to assess the importance of new technologies in information processing.
The term informatics was not yet in use, although it would be suggested
a little later on. The report written by the group for the Consultative
Committee for Scientific and Technological Research (CCRST) in February
1966, highlighted several concepts that were at the roots of this new
science. The report drew attention to the decisive influence that computer
science was going to play in all domains of human endeavor.
In 1966, the proposals contained in the experts' report were presented
by the Committee (CCRST) to an interdepartmental committee for scientific
research, chaired by the French Prime Minister, G. Pompidou. The interdeparmental
committee accepted the principle of these proposals. Some time later,
the political authorities concerned implemented all the measures that
came under the general term of Plan Calcul.
The Research Institute for Computer Science and Automatic
Control (IRIA) was set up under the 67-7 Act passed on 3 January 1967. Its objectives were set out in Decree 67-722 of 25 August the same year. It was one of the main bodies involved in implementation of the Plan Calcul. The scope of IRIA's various missions assured
that it would play a role in all aspects of the plan. Indeed, the institute
took the leading role in research as well as in training and diffusion
of scientific and technological knowledge.
The period 1967-1972 was the first stage in the life of IRIA.
It was a pioneer stage of ex-nihilo creation, under the directorship
of Professor Michel Laudet, with the support of Professor André
Lichnerowicz, chairman of the Scientific Board. At this time, the
Voluceau site, former headquarters of the American SHAPE forces (NATO),
was turned into a research and training facility.
1972-1980 : from IRIA to INRIA
On February 25, 1972, an interdepartmental council confirmed
IRIA's purpose, at the suggestion of the Consultative Committee for
Scientific and Technological Research (CCRST). This council issued a
series of decisions in order to develop the Institute's activities,
concerning particularly synthesis and orientation of French research
in computer science and technical assistance in the computerization
of all activities of national interest:
- centralization of research within a laboratory for research in
computer science and control, called the Laboria;
- development of undertakings relating to technical assistance for
model applications of computer science in the various activity sectors
of national interest;
- direct allocation of research funds to the institute, that was granted
the power to authorize expenditures.
IRIA's statutes were partly modified by decree 73-338 of March 13,
1973, according to these decisions.
This structural reform was based on a major point, the setting up of
a consultative Committee for Research in Computer Science, called the
CCRI, in charge of working out suggestions for a national research policy
in computer science and control. The decree concerning the creation
of the CCRI is decree 73-130 of February 12, 1973.
On June 8, 1972, Michel Laudet, first chairman of the Institute,
was succeeded by André Danzin.
At the conclusion of the Board of Directors meeting of June 28,
1972:
- Michel Montpetit was appointed deputy director of the Institute;
- Professor Jacques-Louis Lions was appointed director of the
Laboria.
Among the secondary missions of IRIA, closely related to its primary
missions, was the launching of and taking the lead in experimental projects.
The first of these projects was the creation of an interconnection network
between several major computing centers (Cyclades project).
IRIA was not only concerned with increasing the potential of researchers,
but also with following the suggestions of the French Commission for
national and regional development (DATAR) regarding the location of
its research teams. Therefore, a few research positions were put at
the disposal of teams in the provinces, especially in Rennes (Brittany).
These teams were known as IRIA's partner teams.
In 1975, a research laboratory called Irisa, was set up in partnership with the University of Rennes I and CNRS, stemming
from the research teams in Rennes.
At the end of 1979, the Institute focused on its research and
technology transfer missions. It became the French National Institute
for Research in Computer Science and Automatic Control (INRIA),
a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry
(according to the decree of December 27, 1979).
Jacques-Louis Lions became Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of INRIA.
At the same time, the decree of September 27, 1979, created the
French Agency for the Development of Computer Science. Its mission
regarding the applications of computer science, included taking the
lead in experimentations, making the public more aware of computer science,
conducting training and directing initiatives toward newly concerned
activity sectors. The Agency was also in charge of leaving and developing
missions for public and private research in computer science implementations
and technology likely to foster the development of these sectors. The
Agency was dissolved in 1986.
After 1980 : the rapid expansion of INRIA
INRIA has experienced a constant growth since the 1980s.
In 1980, a new research unit was founded, the
INRIA Rennes research unit, as part of the Irisa laboratory.
In 1982, the INRIA Sophia Antipolis research unit
was set up.
In 1984, a new research unit was founded, the INRIA Lorraine research unit,
in collaboration with the University of Nancy and the research center
in computer science of Nancy (Crin-CNRS).
In 1984, Simulog was launched. It was the first industry
spin-off set up by INRIA in the field of computer-aided engineering.
It was also the first in a series of nineteen other high-tech companies
stemming from INRIA.
In 1984, Alain Bensoussan became Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer of INRIA.
In 1985, INRIA became a public scientific and technological
establishment (EPST in French) under the dual authority of the Ministry
of Research and the Ministry of Industry.
Decree 85-831 of August 2, 1985, concerning the organization and functions
of the institute, outlined its primary missions:
- to undertake basic and applied research;
- to create experimental systems;
- to organize international scientific exchange;
- to ensure the transfer and dissemination of knowledge and expertise;
- to contribute to the effective implementation of research findings;
- to contribute to cooperative development programmes especially through
training;
- to carry out scientific evaluation;
- to contribute to standardization.
In 1987, INRIA celebrated its twentieth anniversary: Alain Bensoussan
declared that the unique characteristic of the Institute consisted in
making sure that research results were transfered as quickly as possible
towards the economic sector.
In 1987, INRIA's second industry spin-off, Ilog, in charge
of the industrialization of INRIA's products in software intelligence,
was set up.
In 1989, INRIA was one of the founding members of the European
consortium, Ercim, which now gathers together fourteen
research organizations in computer science and applied mathematics.
In 1990, INRIA's third industry spin-off, O2 Technology,
was launched in the field of object oriented database management systems.
In 1992, INRIA set up its fifth research unit, the INRIA Rhône-Alpes research unit.
In March 1994, INRIA adopted its
strategic plan, to define the main guidelines of the Institute's
policy.
On January 31, 1995, INRIA was the first French research organization
to conclude an objectives contract (text
of this contract in French) with the Ministry of Research. This
contract also involved the Ministry of Industry, the other supervisor
for INRIA.
In 1995, INRIA was chosen as the European pilot of the international
consortium, W3C, launched in 1994, side
to side with MIT for the United States.
In 1996, Bernard Larrouturou was appointed Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer of INRIA. In December, the Board
of Directors adopted the main guidelines of the institute's policy for
the coming years at the initiative of the Chairman.
In December 1997, an essay written Bernard Larrouturou
in July 1997 and entitled INRIA in Ten Years, An Essay in the Long
Term, was distributed to the Institute's partners.
1998... At the heart of the information society
January 1st, 1998, founding of the AFNIC
The French association for cooperative Internet naming took over the
naming activities for the Internet domains of the .fr zone that had
been carried out by the NIC France within INRIA up to then. The founding
members of the assocation were INRIA and the government, represented
by the Ministries in charge of Telecommunications, Industry and Research.
January 16, 1998: presentation of the government plan
"Preparing France to Enter the Information Society."
INRIA was called upon several times in the government plan entitled
"Preparing France to Enter the Information Society" presented
by Prime Minister Lionel Jospin on January 16. The Institute was involved
through the "Meeting the challenge of industrial and technological
innovation" initiative, its participation in the national network
for research in telecommunications (RNRT), its activity within the Internet
authorities and through the assignment given to Jean-François
Abramatic. The latter was entrusted with the task of evaluating the
development of the Internet in France and the possible responses to
an ever increasing traffic. He was also put in charge of the questions
relating to the deployment of information systems and Internet standards.
J.F. Abramatic is the President of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
and head of Development and Industrial Relations at INRIA.
March 1998: foundation of the INRIA-TRANSFERT company,
a subsidiary of INRIA.
INRIA-Transfert, a 100% subsidiary INRIA, has a double purpose. The
first purpose is to play a major role in the setting up of startup funds
in ICST and the second purpose is to be a reference structure for the
incubation of innovative company projects in information and communication
technology. In collaboration with private and public partners, INRIA-Transfert
participated in the creation of the I-Source-Gestion company, in charge
of setting up startup funds in the field of ICST. INRIA-Transfert is
directed by Laurent Kott, in charge of technology transfer at INRIA.
May 18, 1998: creation of I-SOURCE, the first national
startup fund in the field of ICST.
On the occasion of the Conference on Innovation, Prime Minister Lionel
Jospin announced the creation of I-Source, at the initiative of INRIA.
I-Source is a risky mutual fund under French law to invest into companies
working in new information and communication technology , based on techniques
and concepts belonging to INRIA's area of expertise. I-Source is not
solely for project authors coming from INRIA. Its objective is to bring
new technology to the market, irrespective of the private or public
structure that was responsible for its development.
June 17, 1999
Jean-François Abramatic submitted his report on the Technical development of the Internet
to Christian Pierret, Junior Minister for Industry.
The report intent was to outline the current state of the technical
development of the Internet in the world and in France and to suggest
a first set of recommendations in order to speed up Internet development
in France. Its goal was to spark a debate and suggest work directions.
In no way did it claim to provide solutions. The "Technical development
of the Internet" mission was part of the government plan for the
information society (PAGSI). The
report thus focused on technical aspects, whereas other reports dealt
with usage aspects, for example electronic commerce, as well as legal
aspects. It should be read as an element in the fundamental debate on
the place of France in the information society.
1999: The 1999-2003 Strategic Plan: a research institute at
the heart of the information society
Outsanding science and technology transfer are the keywords of the strategy
of the Institute spelled out in INRIA's 1999-2003 Strategic Plan. This
plan was adopted on June 30, 1999, by the Board of Directors of the
Institute. In this document, INRIA described its vision of the scientific
and technological world in which it was working. The Plan also gave
an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the Institute in a
context of exacerbated international competition characteristic of research
in information and communication science and technology. Finally, the
Institute's goals and strategy were presented.
INRIA intends to be recognized in the coming years as the best research
center in computer science and applied mathematics in Europe and as
one of the top centers worldwide. The Institute also plans to increase
its leading role in France for the benefit of all researchers in the
field.
October 28, 1999
INRIA received President Jacques Chirac during a visit of his in the
Yvelines department. In addition to a presentation of research activities
in the field of ICST, this visit provided an opportunity for the President
of the Republic to meet the directors of the technology companies stemming
from INRIA.
2000 and beyond: Years of Growth
July 18, 2000: the signing
of INRIA's Four-Year Contract by Roger Gérard
Schwartzenberg, Minister of Research, Christian Pierret, Junior
Minister of Industry and Bernard Larrouturou,
Chief Executive Officer of INRIA.
INRIA's four-year contract was announced by Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, with
very ambitious objectives concerning the influence of the Institute's scientific
research, the impact of its technology transfer activities and its openness
to partnerships and scientific visits. The contract also provided for a significant
commitment of the government to increase INRIA's resources. The staff will
thus sharply increase in numbers from 755 to 1,180 as of 2003 and so will the
budget (+60 MF in 2001).
This commitment is thus a recognition of INRIA's actions and strategy.
The Institute is well aware of its exceptional scope, up to par with
the scientific and technological challenges to be met. INRIA will therefore
increase its driving role for the benefit of the national research
operation in the field of ICST.
2002: Creation of the Futurs research unit,
multi-located in Bordeaux, Lille and Saclay. This research unit presages
three new units based on partnership to be created by the year 2007.
2003:
The Strategic Plan for 2003-2007
The 2003-2007 Strategic
Plan was
adopted by the Board of Directors on July 1, 2003. In this document, the
Institute
describes its vision of the ICST field and presents its goals and strategy:
- to reaffirm its two primary strategic goals - scientific excellence
and technology transfer - and mobilizes its efforts within the framework
of the 7 priority scientific and technological challenges.
- to pay close
attention to the development of its European collaborations and international
exchanges and to its initiatives in terms of training through research and
diffusion of scientific and technical information.
- to amplify its partnership
policy with universities and engineering schools, as well as with other research
organizations in order to foster the emergence of centers of excellence at
the top international level in France.
- to develop a human resources policy
and a managerial spirit at the service of the Institute’s ambitions.
December 9,
2003: Michel Cosnard was named CEO
of INRIA.
May 26,
2004: Gilles
Kahn was named CEO of INRIA.
2005: INRIA celebrated '20
Years of Company Creation'.
On the occasion of the anniversary of 20 years of innovative
technology company creation, the Institute reaffirmed its will to pursue
initiatives in favor of innovation and creation of value. Responsible for
the founding of nearly 80 companies, the Institute launched the 'Born
of INRIA' logo, which helps contribute to company creation based on
the transfer of the technologies and expertise of the Institute. The year
2005 will present the occasion for several events organized in Paris and
the surrounding region.
May 2, 2006: Michel
Cosnard was named CEO of INRIA.
2007: The Institute celebrates its 40 years.
January 1st, 2008: Forty years after its creation, INRIA's strategy continues to focus on regional development and integration with a view to enhancing competitiveness and pushing forward ICST innovation. From 1 January 2008, the Institute will be equipped with three new research centres – previously in “incubation” at INRIA Futurs – on sites in Bordeaux, Lille and Saclay.
2008: The 2008-2012 Strategic Plan for INRIA was approved by its Board of Directors in December 2007. It combines scientific excellence with technology transfer. INRIA's major goal for 2008-2012 is to achieve scientific and technological breakthroughs in seven priority domains:
- Modelling, simulation and optimisation of complex dynamic systems
- Programming: security and reliability of computing systems
- Communication, information, and ubiquitous computing
- Interaction with real and virtual worlds
- Computational engineering
- Computational sciences
- Computational medicine
