Created in 2006, it is awarded by the French Minister of Higher Education and Research, for a renewable five-year period.

[1][2] Laboratories holding the Carnot label receive public funding, paid by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche.

It is calculated according to the volume and growth, over the duration of the partnership, of research contracts established with companies based on their needs.

The labeling procedure includes a preparatory phase called "Tremplin Carnot", designed for laboratories that do not fully meet the required criteria, but receive specific support.

The Carnot label was created in 2006, in order to help public-private partnerships for innovation, and supports both SMEs as well as larger corporations.