The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Center for Scientific Research) is a government-funded research organisation, under the administrative authority of France's Ministry of Research. CNRS research units are spread throughout France, and a large body of permanent researchers, engineers, technicians, and administrative staffs work at these units. As the largest fundamental research organisation in Europe, CNRS is involved in all scientific fields including Life Sciences. Promoting inter-disciplinarity in order to improve knowledge, ensure economic and technological development or solve complex societal problems is one of the major objectives of CNRS' interdisciplinary programs. CNRS is member of the Economic Interest Group CERBM, acting for the ICS.