Institut du Numérique Responsable

What Institut du Numérique Responsable does

The Institut du Numérique Responsable (INR) is a French non-profit association (Association Loi 1901) founded in 2018 from the merger of Club Green IT, serving as the country's reference 'think and do tank' for responsible digital practices. Headquartered at La Rochelle Université with a secondary operational address in Bègles, INR convenes a multi-stakeholder community of 150+ member organizations spanning large enterprises (EDF, BNP Paribas Personal Finance, Société Générale, Airbus, Sopra Steria, OCTO, GRTgaz, norsys), public bodies (Caisse des Dépôts, Métropole Rouen Normandie, Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, DINUM, ADEME), higher education institutions (La Rochelle Université, emlyon, Université Clermont Auvergne), and NGOs. Its mission is codified across three axes: reducing digital's environmental, social, and economic footprint; harnessing digital to reduce broader footprints; and creating responsible digital innovation for e-inclusion.

INR's technology stack is intentionally lightweight — WordPress with OVH hosting and Matomo analytics for privacy-compliant audience measurement — because the value sits in intellectual property, not infrastructure. INR's IP portfolio spans five product pillars: (1) formation via the Académie NR MOOCs (Sensibilisation 30 min, Numérique Responsable 4h30, IA Responsable 1h30, Conception Responsable 1h30) and the Certificat de Connaissance Numérique Responsable QCM exam; (2) measurement via WeNR (Light/Standard/Premium) and MyImpact calculators; (3) charters and Label NR (Charte Numérique Responsable with 1,200+ signatories, Charte IA Responsable, Label NR administered by Agence LUCIE with 253 certified organizations); (4) referentials and guides (RIA31, GR491, RGESN co-developed with DINUM and ADEME, GANR, Clausier Numérique Écoresponsable); and (5) events and content (Boîte à outils NR with 280+ resources, Digital Cleanup Day, Wiki du NR). The technology stack is community-managed via working groups (343 active participants in 2025), with co-creation of MOOCs, frameworks, and tools involving dozens to ~50 contributors per product.

INR's revenue model blends four streams: annual membership dues (subscription, varies by organization type/size), Certificat exam fees (small recurring item, with three free attempts for members), Label NR licensing royalties routed through Agence LUCIE, and partnership/co-development project funding from public bodies (ADEME, DINUM, French Tech Corporate Community). Distribution is community-led and product-led growth via free MOOCs, free measurement tools, and freely accessible frameworks; the certified member survey reports 93% member satisfaction. The association coordinates its operations through a 12-member Conseil d'Administration and 3-member Bureau, with permanent staff recruited in 2025 to support project development and member relations, and over 3,670 hours of volunteer work declared in 2025.

Name

Institut du Numérique Responsable

Legal name

INR – Institut du Numérique Responsable (Association Loi 1901)

Website

https://institutnr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institut du Numérique Responsable (INR) is a French non-profit association (founded 2018) that convenes 150+ member organizations across enterprises, public bodies, academia, and NGOs to develop frameworks, MOOCs, certifications, and the Label NR for responsible digital and AI practices in France and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Responsible Digital Services and Sustainable IT Training

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

akta.pro primary industry

International Standards Development & Standardization Bodies (BPADANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI), Supply Chain & Product Environmental Compliance (RoHS, WEEE, Packaging EPR, Eco-Design/Labeling Regulations) (EUAHABAJ), Product Sustainability & LCA/EPD (Eco-design, PCF) (EUAHAJAF), International Standards, Norms & Technical Regulatory Bodies (BPADAAAJ)

Keywords

• Responsible digital frameworks
• Digital sustainability training
• Eco-design references
• Responsible AI standards
• IT carbon footprint measurement

Headquarters

HQ city

La Rochelle

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Organizations pay annual membership dues to join INR. A membership fee grid is published and varies by organization type/size. Membership grants access to working groups, expert networks, early tool access, reduced exam rates, and collaborative project participation.
2. Certificat exam fees: The knowledge certification exam (Certificat de Connaissance Numérique Responsable) is paid. While initial exams are offered free to members, subsequent attempts and non-member exams carry fees. Adherents benefit from three free exams then preferential rates.
3. Label Numérique Responsable licensing (via Agence LUCIE): The Label NR, created by INR and administered by Agence LUCIE, generates licensing/organization fees from organizations seeking certification. INR co-developed and continues to update the underlying referential.
4. Partnerships and co-development projects: INR collaborates with public bodies (ADEME, DINUM, French Tech, etc.) on funded research, guide development, and tool creation projects that provide operational funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

L'INR développe et diffuse un portefeuille de méthodologies, référentiels, outils de mesure, MOOCs gratuits et programmes de certification pour permettre aux organisations et aux individus d'adopter des pratiques numériques responsables (écoconception, sobriété numérique, accessibilité, éthique, IA responsable, achats responsables). Son offre s'articule autour de l'Académie NR (formation), des outils de mesure d'empreinte (WeNR, MyImpact), des Chartes volontaire (NR et IA), du Label NR (administré via Agence LUCIE) et de frameworks de référence co-construits avec DINUM, ADEME et le Ministère de la Transition Écologique.

Product overview

The Institut du Numérique Responsable (INR) operates as a think tank offering a broad portfolio of interconnected products and services organized into five pillars: (1) Formation & Sensibilisation through the Académie NR, which delivers free MOOCs (Numérique Responsable 4h30, IA Responsable 1h30, Conception Responsable 1h30, and a 30-minute Sensibilisation module), the Certificat de Connaissance Numérique Responsable certification, and Numéville (a pedagogical game for youth); (2) Mesure through measurement tools including WeNR Standard/Premium/Light for organizational digital carbon footprint assessment and MyImpact for individual professional impact estimation; (3) Charte & Label comprising the Charte Numérique Responsable (5 commitments, 1,200+ signatories), the Charte IA Responsable (2025 launch), and the Label Numérique Responsable (2-level certification via Agence LUCIE); (4) Référentiels & Guides including RIA31 (ethical AI framework), GR491 (responsible design guide), RGESN (eco-design standard co-piloted with DINUM/ADEME), the Clausier Numérique Écoresponsable, and GANR (responsible procurement guide); and (5) Outils & Événements including the Boîte à outils NR (280+ resources), Digital Cleanup Day (annual campaign), and the Wiki du Numérique Responsable. All offerings are developed collectively with members, partners, and volunteers, and are made freely available to accelerate the adoption of responsible digital practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Académie NR: The Academy of Responsible Digital - offers MOOCs, certifications, and training programs for digital responsibility including MOOC Numérique Responsable, MOOC IA Responsable, MOOC Conception Responsable, and the Certificat de Connaissance Numérique Responsable.
• Charte Numérique Responsable
• Label Numérique Responsable
• Charte IA Responsable
• RIA31
• WeNR
• Numéville

Products and services

• MOOC Numérique Responsable Free 4h30 online training course covering the fundamentals of responsible digital practices — context, impacts, measurement, action strategies, eco-design and synthesis/certification. Available in French, English and Dutch. Aimed at professionals and individuals building NR competencies.
• MOOC IA Responsable Free 1h30 online course to understand the challenges and best practices of responsible AI within organizations.
• MOOC Conception Responsable d'un service numérique Free 1h30 MOOC on the responsible design of digital services, available in French and English, covering eco-design and accessibility principles.
• MOOC Sensibilisation au Numérique Responsable (30 min) Short 30-minute awareness module for initial acculturation and quick team onboarding to responsible digital.
• Certificat de Connaissance Numérique Responsable Paid knowledge certification exam (QCM) delivered by INR, with open badge. A prerequisite for the Numérique Responsable Label and a recognized credential for professionals. Members get three free exam attempts; subsequent attempts are at preferential rates.
• Charte Numérique Responsable Voluntary commitment charter organized around five key commitments (environment, accessibility, ethics, resilience and values), signed by over 1,200 organizations. A foundational engagement framework for responsible digital practices.
• Charte IA Responsable Charter launched in October 2025 to help organizations anticipate future regulatory obligations while integrating frugality and sovereignty principles into AI usage.
• Label Numérique Responsable Two-level certification label for organizations, based on INR's framework, managed by Agence LUCIE; designed for continuous improvement and accessible to organizations at different NR maturity levels. 253+ organizations certified by end of 2025.
• WeNR Standard Comprehensive annual assessment of an organization's digital carbon footprint based on quantitative and qualitative data, delivering a detailed report with recommendations.
• WeNR Premium Enriched version of WeNR Standard that adds comparative sectoral analysis; reserved for INR members.
• WeNR Light Quick self-assessment tool providing a rapid overview of an organization's digital carbon footprint in a few minutes.
• MyImpact Calculator for estimating an individual's professional digital environmental impact; available for autonomous use.
• Numéville — Jeu de sensibilisation Pedagogical game for young people from age 10, available as a board game (up to 4 players) and a workshop facilitation tool (up to 28 participants); raises awareness of digital responsibility.
• RIA31 — Référentiel IA Éthique et Responsable Comprehensive framework of ethical and responsible AI recommendations organized into 5 major families of operational guidance; available online and illustrated through a comic book format (BD du RIA31).
• GR491 — Guide de Référence de Conception Responsable Comprehensive reference guide for responsible digital service design, covering eco-design principles and accessibility standards.
• RGESN — Référentiel Général d'Écoconception des Services Numériques General framework for the eco-design of digital services, co-piloted by INR with DINUM, ADEME and the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
• Boîte à outils NR Collaborative reference platform cataloguing over 280 practical resources and tools for responsible digital practices.
• Clausier Numérique Écoresponsable Reference document of operational contractual clauses and vendor selection criteria for embedding responsible digital requirements in public or private procurement; developed with FTCC.
• GANR — Guide des Achats Numériques Responsables Practical guide for responsible digital procurement, co-constructed with DINUM and the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
• Digital Cleanup Day (campagne) Annual one-week campaign (March) organized in France and globally to encourage organizations to clean up digital assets; 1,900+ operations in France in 2025 with 300,000+ participants.
• Adhésion INR (programme d'adhésion) Annual organizational membership program providing access to working groups, expert networks, collaborative projects, reduced certification exam rates, free MOOC access and a community of 150+ organizations. Members receive three free Certificat exams.

Quantifiable outcome

• 253 organizations labelled Numérique Responsable by end of 2025 (+30% in one year), with 128 in process
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature10 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ADEME (Agence de la transition écologique)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026ADEME is a key institutional partner supporting INR's work, including co-funding the Alt IMPACT Sobriété Numérique program (with CNRS and INRIA). INR co-developed frameworks (RGESN) and publications with ADEME's backing. INR joined an inter-association tribune advocating for ADEME to continue public policy work on digital sobriety after the Alt IMPACT program ended.
• DINUM (Direction interministérielle du numérique)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026DINUM is a key government partner co-developing INR's reference frameworks, including the RGESN and the guide of good practices. DINUM also collaborates on REEN law compliance tools.
• French Tech Corporate Community (FTCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026FTCC partnered with INR on the Clausier Numérique Écoresponsable (contractual clauses for sustainable digital procurement) and the Starter Kit Sobriété Numérique for large groups.
• Salon de la Souveraineté NumériquemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026INR was institutional partner of the 1st Salon de la Souveraineté Numérique (Paris, June–July 2026, 2,000+ participants), organizing a roundtable and hosting a partners' village. The partnership positioned INR at the intersection of digital sovereignty and NR.
• Alliance GreenIT (AGIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026AGIT is a long-standing partner of INR, collaborating on the Design4Green challenge, sharing members (GreenIT Belgium involvement in INR's international charter expansion), and joint advocacy for digital sustainability.
• Agence LUCIEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 June 2026Agence LUCIE administers the Label Numérique Responsable on the basis of the referential created by INR. This is the formal certification channel for organizational NR validation, the most recognized label in France.
• World Cleanup DayminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026INR partners with World Cleanup Day for the annual Digital Cleanup Day campaign in France, driving mass awareness of digital waste (March campaign, 300,000+ participants in 2025).
• Réseau Les InterconnectésminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026INR co-designed a methodological guide on 'Digital Responsibility Strategy for Local Authorities in 10 Steps' with Les Interconnectés, providing actionable guidance for public sector digital strategy.
• AFNORminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026AFNOR appears as a partner organization, collaborating on standardization and reference framework development for digital responsibility.
• DGE (Direction Générale des Entreprises)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026DGE partners with INR on issues of digital responsibility within the broader French business policy ecosystem.
• FilevertminorOthers · 30 June 2026Filevert appears as a partner organization, likely involved in digital sustainability/transition efforts in France.
• Coalition for Sustainable AImajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025INR joined the Coalition for Sustainable AI in October 2025, an international initiative dedicated to building sustainable, ethical, and environmentally responsible AI systems.
• Z Association (Z-sassocies)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025INR and Z Association partnered to put digital responsibility at the service of employment and solidarity, particularly supporting job seekers and people in professional transition in accessing NR training and certification.
• Coalition Numérique Responsable (Métropole Rouen Normandie, ADEME, Normandie Web Xperts, France Travail)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2025A regional coalition led by Métropole Rouen Normandie with ADEME, Normandie Web Xperts, and France Travail, working to sensitize organizations to environmental, social, and ethical dimensions of digital. INR supports the coalition and its 12 annual signatory organizations in signing the INR Charte.
• CAP DIGITALmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2025INR partnered with CAP DIGITAL on the Refresh program, supporting francilien startups in integrating NR into their roadmaps and making environmental and ethical digital issues a competitive advantage.
• CigrefcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025INR and Cigref co-published a landmark report on 'Low-tech and Digital Resilience' (2026), exploring how low-tech approaches can strengthen organizational digital resilience in the face of energy, climate, and geopolitical crises.
• Entreprises pour l'Environnement (EpE)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025INR collaborated with EpE on a publication about 'Piloting environmental IT projects in the age of AI,' helping organizations integrate environmental considerations into AI-driven IT project governance.
• France Travail and SimplonmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025A trilateral partnership (Simplon, France Travail, INR) presented at GreenTech Forum 2025, aiming to make digital more sustainable and accessible, particularly by opening NR certification to job seekers.
• Belgian Institute for Sustainable IT (ISIT Belgium)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ISIT Belgium collaborates with INR on MOOC co-development and international expansion of NR frameworks, contributing to the English and Dutch MOOC versions and the cross-border NR community.
• Swiss Institute for Sustainable IT (ISIT Switzerland)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ISIT Switzerland partners with INR on the international MOOC call for tenders (2025–2028) and broader NR framework sharing, supporting INR's international reach.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ADEME: French public agency for ecological transition. INR co-developed frameworks (RGESN) and publications (Alt IMPACT) with ADEME, which is the broader state-backed incumbent authority on environmental and digital-sobriety public policy.
• AFNOR: French national standards body and INR partner collaborating on standardization of digital-responsibility frameworks. Comparable as a broader, formally accredited standards organization that could absorb or co-author INR's specifications into national/international norms.
• DINUM (Direction interministérielle du numérique): French interministerial directorate for digital that co-pilots RGESN and GANR with INR. Comparable as the public-sector setter of digital-eco-design standards upstream of INR's referentials.

Others

• Cigref: French association of large-enterprise CIOs; INR and Cigref co-publish landmark reports (Low-tech & Digital Resilience, 2026). Not a direct competitor but a closely adjacent industry partner and knowledge co-producer addressing similar enterprise audiences.
• Agence LUCIE: French ESG certification body that administers the Label Numérique Responsable built on INR's referential. Comparable as a downstream certification operator distributing INR's standards into the market.

Direct peers

• Swiss Institute for Sustainable IT (ISIT Switzerland): Swiss counterpart working with INR on the international MOOC call for tenders (2025–2028) and shared NR frameworks. Comparable as a national sustainable-IT association with adjacent membership, certification, and tooling offerings.
• The Shift Project: French think tank on energy and低碳 transition, including digital sustainability (e.g., 'Lean ICT Report'). Comparable as a French independent think tank publishing influential frameworks and reports on the environmental footprint of digital technology.
• Alliance GreenIT (AGIT): French green-IT association and long-standing INR partner; both co-organize the Design4Green challenge and share member overlap. Directly comparable as a national-level association for green digital practices.
• Green Software Foundation: International open-source foundation building standards and tools for green software. Directly comparable in mission (reducing software carbon footprint) and outputs (frameworks/specifications comparable to INR's WeNR, GR491, RIA31).
• Belgian Institute for Sustainable IT (ISIT Belgium): Belgian counterpart institute and INR's partner for cross-border MOOC co-development (English and Dutch versions). Operates a near-identical mission and product set, and is INR's closest international sibling organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/institutnr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institutnr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institut du Numérique Responsable