Centre français de recherche en sciences sociales (CEFRES)

Founded in Prague in 1991, CEFRES–French Research Center in Humanities and Social Sciences–aimed at restarting the scientific exchanges between France and Central Europe as it underwent major changes after the fall of communism. One of CEFRES’s tasks since then has been to build up a network of research teams between France, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. A part of the network of French Research Institutes Abroad (IFRE, it became a mixed service and research unit–USR 3138–in 2007. CEFRES is therefore under the tutelage of both the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEDI) and of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).

With its networks in France and Central Europe, CEFRES develops its own scientific policy revolving around three transversal research areas. These research priorities originate from the discussions, which unfolded at the Research Forum in the Czech Republic organized by the CEFRES Platform in April-May 2015.

CEFRES supports researchers’ mobility from France and the Visegrad countries. It hosts a team of young researchers and of statutory researchers, whose projects fit in its general scientific policy.