Origins

On the 18th of April, 2006, the Government promulgated a law No. 2006-40 (NOR : MENX0500251L) for research programming. This law envisaged the creation of thematic networks for advanced research (in French, RTRA for « Réseaux Thématiques de Recherche Avancée »), operating as cooperative foundations serving the public interest with the authority to seek private funding.

The Minister for Research launched an appeal for network proposal submissions on the 22nd of May, 2006. The successful applicants were announced by the Prime Minister on the 4th of October, 2006 and awards made by the Minister for Higher Education and Research on the 9th of October, 2006.

The RTRA have involved the unification of several research establishments and higher education institutions, both public and private. Private enterprises are equally welcome to become part of these foundations.

The International Centre for Frontier Research in Chemistry (ICRFC) was inaugurated in November, 2007 in the presence of the Minister for Higher Education and Research, Madam Valérie Pécresse.

The founding members of the Centre were the University of Strasbourg (at the time, Louis Pasteur University), the CNRS, BASF and Bruker Biospin.

The first appeal for project submissions was made. In total, 45 proposals were received under the headings of innovation, local collaboration and high-level recruitment.