What AFCROs does

AFCROs (Association Française des CROs) is a non-profit professional trade association founded in 2002 and headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. The association represents 100+ French clinical research organizations (CROs) and service providers (102 members as of March 2023), acting as the unified industry voice for clinical and epidemiological research in France. Its core offerings consist of 11 specialized working groups covering AI in clinical research, real-world data, decentralized clinical trials, medical devices, regulatory affairs (CNIL-RGPD, CPP-ANSM, Convention Unique), human vigilance/RSE, attractiveness, clinical research professions, and patient engagement. The association also organizes the annual Journée de la Recherche Clinique (Clinical Research Day) and the Colloque Données de Santé en Vie Réelle (RWD Symposium), publishes the annual Baromètre de la Recherche Clinique, and co-developed the EUCROF GDPR Code of Conduct validated by CNIL as the first pan-European tool of its kind.

AFCROs' underlying intellectual property is concentrated in standards and guidelines rather than technology products. Its principal assets include the Charte IA (the first industry charter for responsible AI use in clinical research), the EUCROF GDPR Code of Conduct, a practical Guide Pratique SNDS for French national health data access, a member directory (Annuaire), a job board, and the Notre Recherche Clinique public information platform. The association is an active member of EUCROF (the European Federation of CROs), with its President serving as EUCROF Vice-President, enabling pan-European regulatory advocacy.

The business model is that of a French association loi 1901 funded by member dues. There is no product revenue, no equity, and no public funding disclosures; pricing and membership tiers are not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are defined by company type rather than end market: members are CROs, biostatistics/data management firms, pharmacovigilance providers, regulatory consultancies, and medical device clinical investigation companies. The association reaches its audience through a multi-channel approach: website, newsletter, LinkedIn, annual events, and EUCROF-affiliated channels. Geographic footprint is France-centric with EU-level advocacy reach.

Name

AFCROs

Legal name

AFCROs - Association Française des CROs

Website

https://afcros.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AFCROs is a French non-profit trade association founded in 2002, representing 100+ clinical research organizations (CROs) through working groups, annual industry events, and regulatory advocacy, including the EUCROF GDPR Code of Conduct validated by CNIL.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association - Clinical Research Industry

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA)

Keywords

• Clinical research organizations
• Trade association
• Pharmaceutical services
• Clinical trials industry
• Healthcare research advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulogne Billancourt

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AFCROs is a French non-profit trade association (association loi 1901) that represents and advocates for more than 100 member companies operating in the clinical research sector, primarily Contract Research Organizations (CROs). It provides its members with advocacy, working groups, professional events, industry publications, training resources, and regulatory frameworks such as the GDPR Code of Conduct and the AI Charter. The association also serves as the national representative of EUCROF, the European CRO Federation.

Product overview

AFCROs (Association Française des CROs) operates as a professional association representing French clinical research companies rather than a product company with a unified software platform. The organization's offerings consist of industry services including the annual Journée de la Recherche Clinique (JRC) and Colloque DSVR conferences, industry publications such as the Baromètre de la Recherche Clinique, a member company directory, job board, specialized working groups on AI, real-world data, medical devices, and regulatory affairs, public information resources through Notre Recherche Clinique platform, career resources including job description guides, and industry standards such as the Charte IA for ethical AI use and the EUCROF Code de Conduite RGPD for GDPR compliance in clinical research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Journée de la Recherche Clinique (JRC) Annual conference organized by AFCROs gathering CROs, sponsors, regulators, and investigators to discuss clinical research topics, regulatory updates, and industry trends in France.
• Colloque Données de Santé en Vie Réelle (Real-World Data Colloquium) Recurring colloquium focused on real-world health data (RWD) and its use in clinical research, organized by AFCROs for clinical research professionals, data scientists, and sponsors.
• Baromètre de la Recherche Clinique Periodic industry barometer publication produced by AFCROs that tracks trends, activity, and key indicators of the French clinical research sector for members and stakeholders.
• AFCROs Working Groups Standing working groups (e.g., Real-World Data, AI, Decentralized Clinical Trials) where AFCROs member companies collaborate to develop industry positions, technical frameworks, and best practices.
• Code de Conduite RGPD (GDPR Code of Conduct) Sectoral GDPR Code of Conduct for clinical research activities in France, validated by the CNIL, that member companies can adopt to demonstrate GDPR-compliant data processing.
• Charte IA (AI Charter) AFCROs' charter setting out principles and best practices for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in clinical research activities, available to member companies.
• Guide Pratique SNDS Practical guide published by AFCROs that explains how member companies and researchers can use the French National Health Data System (SNDS) for clinical research purposes.
• Annuaire des Entreprises (Member Directory) Online directory listing AFCROs member companies, used by sponsors and partners to identify qualified French CROs and clinical research service providers.
• Offres d'Emploi (Job Board) Online job board operated by AFCROs that lists clinical research job openings posted by member companies for candidates seeking careers in the CRO sector.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ON HEALTHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025AFCROs partners with ON HEALTH (video platform) to produce and distribute video coverage of the annual Journée de la Recherche Clinique (JRC2026).
• Med'Innov ConnectionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025AFCROs' Medical Device working group participates in the Med'Innov Connection event, holding an afterwork session on clinical investigation design and regulatory requirements.
• Health&Tech SummitminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025AFCROs is a partner of the Health&Tech Summit 2025 held in Marseille (December 2025), an event bringing together health technology stakeholders.
• CESREES (Comité Éthique et Scientifique pour les Recherches, Études et Évaluations dans le domaine de la Santé)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020AFCROs collaborates with CESREES through its Real World Data working group, providing expertise on the evaluation of research projects accessing French health data. CESREES reviews projects for ethical and scientific appropriateness before data access is granted.
• Health Data Hub (HDH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019AFCROs maintains an active working relationship with the Health Data Hub (created December 2019), representing member interests in accessing French national health data (SNDS). AFCROs' Real World Data working group engages with HDH on topics including data access procedures, CNIL procedures, CESREES evaluation, and SNDS extraction recommendations.
• EUCROF (European Federation of CROs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002AFCROs is an active member of EUCROF, the European Federation of CROs. Through this partnership, AFCROs contributes to pan-European regulatory advocacy, shares best practices across national borders, and participates in EU-level policy development. AFCROs' President serves as Vice-President of EUCROF, and the association has co-developed the EUCROF GDPR Code of Conduct for clinical research.
• Notre Recherche CliniquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCROs participates in the editorial committee of the public information website notre-recherche-clinique.fr, which provides accessible information about clinical research to the general public and patients. AFCROs members contribute content and support the site's mission to demystify clinical research. The partnership supports AFCROs' public engagement and patient outreach mission.
• CNAM (Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFCROs engages with CNAM on SNDS data access matters. AFCROs has publicly advocated for improved SNDS access procedures and faster turnaround times (currently exceeding 12 months), proposing solutions such as direct access for experienced researchers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DIA (Drug Information Association): Global neutral professional association serving the life sciences R&D ecosystem, including clinical research. Comparable to AFCROs as a member-based organization producing events, standards, and advocacy across CROs, sponsors, and regulators.
• SCRS (Society for Clinical Research Sites): Global trade organization representing clinical research sites. Comparable to AFCROs as a clinical-research industry association that convenes working groups, hosts conferences, and advocates with regulators on site feasibility, patient recruitment, and trial enablement — areas in which AFCROs' members also operate.
• EUCROF (European Federation of CROs): Pan-European federation of national CRO associations of which AFCROs is a founding member. Directly comparable as a clinical-research trade body operating at the EU level, co-developing the GDPR Code of Conduct with AFCROs.
• ACRO (Association of Clinical Research Organizations): US-based trade association representing clinical research and technology organizations. Functions as the direct American counterpart to AFCROs, advocating for the CRO industry with regulators and policymakers on similar themes (compliance, innovation, site enablement).
• RQA (Research Quality Association): International membership organization focused on quality in clinical research and pharmaceutical R&D. Comparable to AFCROs' working groups on regulatory and quality topics as a peer professional body serving the same CRO quality and compliance ecosystem.
• CCRA (China Clinical Research Association): Chinese national association for clinical research organizations. Comparable to AFCROs as a national trade body representing CROs and advocating with regulators, but operating in a different geography.

Regional players

• BARQA (British Association of Research Quality Assurance): UK-based association for quality assurance in clinical research. Comparable to AFCROs' regulatory and humanovigilance working groups as a national clinical-research quality association, but operating in a different geography.

Others

• France Biotech: French association representing biotech and innovative health companies. Adjacent to AFCROs as a French health-innovation trade body whose members frequently engage AFCROs' CRO members as service providers.
• PHARMALINE / SNITEM (medical devices industry body): French medical devices industry association (SNITEM). Adjacent to AFCROs — AFCROs' Medical Devices working group overlaps thematically with SNITEM's regulatory and clinical-investigation agenda, making it a thematic peer in the medtech clinical-evidence space.
• LEEM (Les Entreprises du Médicament): French pharmaceutical industry association representing drug companies. Adjacent to AFCROs — many LEEM members are AFCROs members' clients — and occasionally co-advocates with AFCROs on French clinical research competitiveness, but not a direct CRO-industry peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AFCROs
• YouTubevimeo.com/user66793052
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afcros

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about AFCROs