The Research Centre on Scientific and Technical Information, CERIST, was created in 1985 by virtue of the decree No 85-56 of March 16th , 1985. Under the aegis of the Prime Minister, the CERIST had to undertake any research related to the creation, the setting up and the development of a national scientific and technical information system.
Later on, the CERIST joined the "Haut Commissariat à la Recherche" according to the decree No 86-73 of April 08th, 1986.
Currently, the CERIST is a scientific and technological public institution placed under the aegis of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research by virtue of the decree No 03-454 of December 1st , 2003.
the CERIST is organized in administrative and technical departments and research divisions. Besides the headoffice located in Algiers, the CERIST has regional sites and representations across the country.