The CRRM was set up in 1978 in the Chemistry Department at the University of Aix-Marseille III in the St Jérôme Research Centre by Henri Dou and Parina Hassanaly. At that time HD was Director of Research at the CNRS and PH Assistant in Organic Chemistry. The aim was to perform various types of online research for the scientific community . At that time the subject was quite new, and the potential of this large stock of information was quite well understood by the CRRM.
The CNRS provided the start-up funds (1978) to begin online research and this is the reason why it was conducted in Chemical Abstracts at the beginning. Analysis of the information provided led to several scientific papers providing an insight into the distribution of Registry Numbers, technology analysis and scientific production, scattered in various journals.
But, very rapidly interest in the online systems grew, and the CRRM was involved in various continuing education schemes in this area. The training needs were so great that we created a DU (University Diploma) and later on a DESS in Management of Scientific and Technical Information. These two diplomas were created 13 years ago and are still being awarded today.
In 1989, the fifth development plan in France put the spotlight on the question of Technology Watch and Competitive Intelligence, called in French "Veille Technologique". Because we were already involved in this area we proposed to the Ministry of Education and research to create in Marseilles, at the University of Aix-Marseille III a DEA (equivalent of a Master's degree) in Strategic Information, Technology Watch and Competitive intelligence. This Diploma leads the students to the Ph.D. and is successful to day, since many students from Indonesia, Brazil, Tunisia, Morocco follow the course. All the students have a grant either from their Government of from the French Ministry of Co-operation.