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A strategic role
For INRA, like any other research institute, evaluation of its scientific resources acts as an essential means of regulation, from analysis of the intrinsic quality of activities and results to their contribution to INRA's consistency, identity and orientations. The methods and criteria applied aim to determine how research units and individual researchers will adhere to the missions of a public research agency: production of knowledge, conception of and participation in projects targeting innovation, training and expertise.
An original approach which acknowledges the specificities of mission-oriented research
As a mission-oriented research institute, INRA aims to consider both the scientific and socioeconomic importance of its activities. The missions of INRA researchers and engineers are thus characterised by a broad range of activities and results. Their importance to experimental work and the efforts they make to transfer their findings to practical applications are essential and acknowledged.
For this reason, evaluation of the activities of both groups and individuals concerns both scientific excellence (peer evaluation) and socio-economic relevance, emphasis being laid on the quality and relevance of the work carried out, based on publicly-available references. A multi-criterion approach is therefore necessary if account is to be taken of the specificities of mission-oriented research.
Evaluation at two levels
Research Units
Since 1991, units have been evaluated every four years with respect to the quality of their scientific results, the relevance of their projects and the organisation and management of resources.
Scientific Divisions
The evaluation of Scientific Divisions was initiated in 1999 and now takes place every four years. The principal objective is to assess the scientific quality of the results generated by the Division, its positioning at the national and international levels and the relevance of the socio-economic contribution achieved through its work.
- Individual evaluation of researchers and engineers
Individual evaluation concerns three dimensions of their activities: the production of knowledge, their management of or contribution to the functioning of a group, expertise, and the transfer of knowledge and results.
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