Research Information Systems in France: Fragmentation, Interoperability, and Emerging Opportunities

16 pages•Published: October 19, 2026

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of current research information systems (CRIS) in France, examining their development, current configurations, and future prospects across research organizations, higher education institutions, and laboratories. Drawing on policy reports, institutional analyses, and recent initiatives, it highlights the fragmented and heterogeneous nature of existing systems, shaped by diverse governance models, technological choices, and organizational constraints. The paper analyses major national tools and projects - including Labintel, CapLab, CRISalid, and scanR - and situates them within broader international developments in research information management. Particular attention is paid to the growing role of persistent identifiers as a key lever for interoperability, data quality, and administrative simplification. The analysis also addresses structural challenges related to governance, sustainability, and user engagement, especially at the laboratory level. Finally, the paper identifies emerging opportunities linked to open science policies, funding mechanisms, international collaborations, and European university alliances, arguing that France’s future CRIS landscape is likely to remain decentralized but increasingly interconnected through shared standards and infrastructures.

Keyphrases: france, governance, higher education and research policy, interoperability, monitoring, national cris, open science, persistent identifiers (pids), research infrastructures

In: Pablo de Castro and Joachim Schöpfel (editors). Proceedings of 17th International Conference on Current Research Information Systems, vol 5, pages 20-35.

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/51vn
	https://doi.org/10.29007/9c92