Find out what the Institut Pasteur is doing to promote sustainable, open and ethical research for the common good.
Commitments
Our commitments to science and society
Louis Pasteur gave us a mission that goes beyond the bounds of medical research, urging us to promote science as a common good and ensure that progress benefits both people and the planet. We are well aware of our impact on society and the environment, which is why firm commitments underpin our work. Moreover, efforts to promote sustainable development and impact society positively guide our actions.
Inset Key points
- The Institut Pasteur's gender equality in the workplace index score is 99%
- The Institut Pasteur is a key stakeholder in the "Paris for climate and biodiversity" initiative and is pledging to go carbon neutral by 2050
- Tangible commitments have been made to ethics, integrity and compliance, underpinned by several reference documents (see list below)
- In 2024, the Institut Pasteur became the first French research institute to establish a department for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
A commitment to the future: social responsibility at the Institut Pasteur
At the Institut Pasteur, we are aware of our social responsibilities and pay close attention to the social, environmental and economic impact of all our activities. In particular, we support the United Nations Global Compact and its ten principles on human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption. Our investigation of the living world makes us particularly aware of the vulnerability of our environment.
This is why we are also committed to sustainable development and especially to reducing the environmental impact of our activities. We have been a signatory of the Paris Climate Action Charter spearheaded by Paris City Council since 2020. In 2020, the Institut Pasteur signed the Paris Climate Action Charter, which was renewed in November 2022 under the new name of the Pact for the Climate and Biodiversity Action Plan, making the institute a key stakeholder in the "Paris for climate and biodiversity" initiative.
The Institut Pasteur's low-carbon strategy, adopted in 2025, sets clear targets in terms of a 15% cut in indirect and indirect energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (compared to 2022) and carbon neutrality by 2050.
Ethics, integrity and compliance at the Institut Pasteur
Through our Ethics Charter, we at the Institut Pasteur are committed to responsible, ethical, transparent research, conducted with fairness and respect for human dignity. We are proud to be a non-profit foundation with recognized charitable status and are constantly striving to act in the public interest and to uphold the universal, generous, human-centered vision passed down by Louis Pasteur.
Many of our commitments go beyond mere compliance with legal or regulatory obligations. They are laid down in internal policy documents. The Institut Pasteur has formed a number of independent committees to oversee their implementation. The Institut Pasteur Ethics Committee (CEIP) in particular encourages discussion on the societal and ethical dimensions of research and practices. All our bodies (more details of these provided further on in this section) guarantee the reliability of research outcomes, help maintain public trust and meet the requirements of funding bodies and scientific journals.
More generally, they demonstrate continued observance of the Institut Pasteur's core values.
Find out more about all our ethics, integrity and compliance bodies
The Institut Pasteur's main charters and policy documents:
A "Pasteurian" community where everyone's views count
We are proud to be a non-profit foundation with recognized charitable status and strive to act in the public interest and to uphold the universal, generous, human-centered vision of Louis Pasteur. We put people at the heart of our mission (biomedical research) in the firm belief that excellence in scientific research is achieved through the commitment of individuals and the support of those who believe in its work. This means valuing everyone who works on our campus, from scientists to administrative and technical staff. The success of the Institut Pasteur and efforts to realize its vision of society – where everyone is valued, differences are respected and celebrated, and the system is geared toward the common good – are thus placed firmly in the hands of each member of our community.
We are strongly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion – fundamental values that stimulate creativity and drive innovation. By upholding these values, we ensure that every voice is heard and every person helps in our quest to understand the living world and protect life.
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90
Almost 50% of scientists on campus are foreign nationals, with around 90 nationalities represented
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99 %
Our commitment to gender equality translates into tangible results, with the Institut Pasteur boasting a gender equality in the workplace index score of 99%
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40,7 %
of the governing bodies' members are women in 2026 (joint figure for the Executive Board and Scientific Management Board)
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59,2 %
Women also account for 59.2% of the Institut Pasteur's staff, reflecting our commitment to gender balance in all roles
In 2024, the Institut Pasteur became the first French research institute to establish a department for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
Promoting animal welfare and developing alternative experimental methods
Research on animal models is a continuing necessity. The Institut Pasteur is fully aware of its responsibilities; it is committed to protecting the well-being of animals used for research, especially through strict compliance with regulatory provisions, and to encouraging the development of experimental methods that avoid using animals wherever possible.
Passing on knowledge and championing open science
We champion open science as a powerful catalyst for discoveries and equity. Open science is a movement that seeks to make scientific research and the data it produces available to all of society. In May 2021, the Institut Pasteur adopted two key documents: a Charter for Open Access to Publications and a policy for managing and sharing research data and software code.
This approach ensures reproducible and impactful scientific results, while also encouraging cross-disciplinary and international collaboration. In December 2025, 85% of Institut Pasteur papers published in 2024 were available on an open-access basis.
Why these commitments matter
- In the current landscape of attacks on science, climate emergency and social inequality, firm and measurable responses are needed. Under the impetus of our President, Yasmine Belkaid, the Institut Pasteur unequivocally endorses:
- 1 Independence and long-term funding of research
- 2 Scientific integrity as a bulwark against disinformation
- 3 Fair access to innovation, ensuring that vulnerable groups benefit from treatments originating in our laboratories
We embody Louis Pasteur's vision of making science a shared asset to be protected and passed on for the benefit of humankind :
Making science a shared asset to be protected and passed on for the benefit of humankind.
