Institut de Recherche en Informatique Fondamentale (IRIF) is a research unit co-founded by CNRS and Université Paris Cité, as UMR 8243. It results from the merging of the two research units LIAFA and PPS on January 1st, 2016. IRIF hosts one Inria project-team. IRIF is also member of Fondation Sciences Mathématiques de Paris (FSMP), and of three regional programs: Math Innov, Computer Sciences, Quantum Technologies.

The research conducted at IRIF is based on the study and understanding of the foundations of all computer science, in order to provide innovative solutions to the current and future challenges of digital sciences.

In particular, IRIF is renown for its contributions to the design and analysis of algorithms, the study of computational and data representation models, the foundations of programming languages, software development, verification, and certification. IRIF also conducts interdisciplinary research taking advantage of its scientific approach.

IRIF relies on mathematical concepts developed and studied within it, particularly in combinatorics, graph theory, logic and algebra. Its work also contributes directly to mathematics, including number theory, combinatorial physics, probability theory, category, proof theory, and computer assisted mathematical proofs.

At the CNRS, IRIF is primarily affiliated to the Institute of Computer Science (INS2I), and, secondarily, to the Institute of Mathematics (INSMI). IRIF is part of the Department of Computer Science of Université Paris Cité, and also hosts several members of the Department of Mathematics. Last, IRIF is affiliated to the doctoral school of Mathematical Sciences of Paris (ED 386).

IRIF is structured in nine thematic teams, grouped into three research poles:

• Pole Algorithms and discrete structures
  • Algorithms and complexity
  • Combinatorics
  • Distributed computing
  • Theory and algorithmics of graphs
• Pole Automata, structures and verification
  • Automata and applications
  • Modeling and verification
• Pole Proofs, programs and systems
  • Algebra and computation
  • Analysis and conception of systems
  • Proofs and programs

IRIF hosts currently a hundred permanent members, including 50 faculty members, 27 CNRS researchers, 5 INRIA researchers, 8 emeritus members, and 8 administrative and technical staffs (in March 2022). The total number of IRIF members, including PhD students, postdocs, TA and long-term visitors amounts for about two hundred.

Six members of IRIF received grants from the European Research Council (ERC), six are members of the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), two are members of the Academia Europæa, and one is member of the Académie des sciences.

IRIF brochure (french version)