The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique is a government-funded research organization under the administrative authority of France's Ministry of Research, involved in all scientific fields. More than 1000 CNRS research units are spread throughout France, and employ a large body of permanent researchers, engineers, technicians, and administrative staff.

CNRS is involved in EURESCL as the responsible institution of  the "Centre International de Recherches sur les Esclavages" (CIRESC-GDRI).

The main objectives of the CIRESC-GDRI are to develop and spread studies on Trade and Slavery and their cultural social and political outputs over the centuries and all over the world.  These studies are multidisciplinary and comparative in order to split the different cultural areas and to point out the national scientific influences and decisions.

Its main activities are:

• the running of joint research programs, and conferences;
• a reflection on teaching Trade and Slavery at school and the creation of pedagogic tools;
• information to researchers, teachers, stakeholders and a wider public via a website.