History
The Institute for development research IRD is a public science and technology establishment (EPST) under the joint supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
The main stages in the history of the Institute:
The colonial period
1937: Creation of the Advisory Committee of Scientific Research for overseas France and the Higher Council for Scientific Research for the coordination of national research institutions in charge of organizing "colonial science".
1943: Creation of the Office of Scientific Research colonial (ORSC). The ORSC is under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Navy and the Colonies. The Board is chaired by the Director of the CNRS.
The ORSC’s mission is:
- to form a corps of researchers
- to create a high-level scientific training specialising in the tropics
- to establish a network of research centres in the French overseas territories.
1944-1953: The Office naming changes twice, first "Orsom" (Office of Scientific Research overseas) and then "ORSTOM" (Office of Scientific and Technical Research Overseas).
1949: Installation of the headquarter in the Hotel Montesquiou-Fezensac at 20, rue Monsieur (Paris 7th district)
The independence
1960: The independence of the African countries
- New joint supervision :
- Minister of national education,
- Secretary of State for Relations with States of the community
- New mission :
- to undertake basic research towards the development of tropical countries,
- to assume a policy of scientific and technical cooperation with third world countries.
- Installation of the headquarters at 24, rue Bayard (Paris 8th district)
1960-1983: The major centres of ORSTOM
- Consolidation of the scientific organisation
- Strengthening of infrastructure in Africa in the overseas provinces (DOM)
- Development of cooperation with countries in South America and Southeast Asia as well as with Arab countries.
The development research
1984: Fundamental reform of the Office laying down the principles of its current organisation (Decree of 5 June 1984). The ORSTOM, while retaining its acronym, takes the name, the French Institute of Scientific and Technical Research for Development and Cooperation.
- Dual supervision of the Ministry of Research and the Ministry of Cooperation,
- Given the status of a public scientific and technological establishment (EPST)
- Missions to promote and conduct scientific and technological research that will make a lasting contribution to economic, social and cultural development in developing countries.
1985: Installation of the headquarters at 213, rue La Fayette (Paris 10th district)
The nineties: The organisation and scientific programming are the subject of evolutions intended to mobilise the scientific community on major development issues, in accordance with the territorial offices of the organisation and its many partnerships engaged in the overseas territories and departments in the South.
1998: ORSTOM becomes the Institute of Development Research (IRD) (Decree of 5 November).
- Establishment of an operation by dedicated units.
- 5 scientific departments
- The environment in general
- Living resources
- Society and health
- Expertise and development
- Support and training of scientific communities in the South.
- Evaluation and scientific excellence.
2006-2009: Contract of objectives
- Defined 6 scientific priorities.
- Policy of creating joint research units with universities.
- Site policy.
September 2008: New headquarters at 44 Boulevard de Dunkerque in Marseille.
June 2010 :
Modification of Decree No. 84-430 of 5 June 1984, by Decree No. 2010-594 of 3 June 2010 (Official Journal of 4 June 2010), concerning the organisation and operation of the Institute of Development Research.
The decree no.2010-594:
- institute a president, appointed for four years, who will cover the functions currently exercised by the Chairman of the Board and CEO;
- confirm the role of operator and funding agency of the Institute, by establishing within it the Agency for inter-institutional development research (AIRD).
2011-2015 : New contract of objectives
- To develop a research partnership with Southern countries
- To promote targeted research to face general issues arising in the South
- To organise and support the growth of the Agency
- To adapt the governance of the countries in accordance with the mission of the IRD
