The University has much to gain these partnerships

Academic research produces knowledge from emerging technologies. This fertile couple are born of innovative products with high added value. The crisis brings new vigour to the ménage à trois with the beneficial effects on the economy are known since the industrial revolution. In fact, all major developed countries are facing the same problem. How to optimize the relations between basic research, mostly funded by public funds, and technological development, provided mainly by companies How to attract and motivate researchers to win global battles health, energy and sustainable development are emerging on the horizon.

Policy guidance and strategic programs take place everywhere in the world. The basic ingredients of the cockpit by the public authorities are identified: a good dose of prospective divinatory conducted by undeniable experts, well funded multi-year thematic programmes and structures fostering diversity between the public and the private sector. The effectiveness of this trio is controlled regularly by assessments that eliminate bad ideas and indolent actors. Short, in these times of rare and expensive money, research and innovation are in the era of productivity and performance.

High-tech strategy

In the United Kingdom, the official message leaves no doubt: "the goal of science is to bring to the society of prosperity, well-being and social justice." The Science and Innovation Framework, launched by Tony Blair pragmatics, covers a period of ten years (from 2004 to 2014). It aims to strengthen the place of the country in the world scientific community and to expand partnerships and technology transfer. London also intends to consolidate its position as first foreign students European host countries. Goal: become a land of preferred election for R & D investments, particularly in the life sciences.

The Germans are a relatively nearby target with their high-tech strategy covering the period 2006 to 2010. Here also, one table on partnerships "involving the science and economics. Seventeen high creative technologies of the future of jobs were identified by the experts from Berlin. The country has also launched a spectacular action intended to create a network of "super-universités" which do not in any of the world. This financially well with elite must get at least a university ranked in the Top 10 world here in 2015 ("Les Echos" of November 6, 2008). The Germany is a unique example of "dual governance" with its Federal organisation, between a very techie central Government (Bund) and powerful very autonomous regions (Länder).

In the United States, the scientific community is concerned and expected much of Barack Obama. During the campaign, American researchers themselves are not deprived recall the major role that they played in the growth and technological leadership of the country. For many experts, one of the first decisions of the new President will be to abolish the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. The new President should also simplify the procedure for issuing visas to foreign researchers considerably hardened the Bush administration after September 11, 2001. But everyone expects difficult time and budgetary constraints.

The Japan is the champion of the technology planning in the long term. This country is investing about 3.6 of GDP in R & D. With more than 126 billion euros devoted to this position, it is better than the Germany and the France together (around EUR 105 billion to them both). More than 82 of this effort is provided by the industry. A national plan (2006-2010) was launched to "accelerate the transfer of the results of research to society". Tokyo seeks global leadership in the sciences of the environment, transport and the supercomputers of the future. Program "Innovation 2025" plans to put innovation at the heart of the development of the country.

Source of controversy

In France, the collaboration between the public and the private sector is still a source of controversy. The law adopted by Parliament in 2005 would initially be called Pact on research and innovation. At the request of researchers, the second term was sticky texts. Public researchers remain opposed to the intrusion of private money, but a few recent examples confirm an undeniable evolution "in Anglo-Saxon. The Institute of the vision inaugurated recently ("Les Echos" of December 16, 2008) no doubt shows how to multiply the famous public-private partnerships (PPP). At the université Pierre-and-Marie-Curie in Paris (UPMC), Jean Chambaz, Vice-President of research, is a good look at this new order. "There is nothing offensive, when the contract of departure is clear." The University has much to gain these partnerships. "Start with a better understanding of the mode of management of the company", indicates the Parisian researcher.

According to the latest data from Futuris, last year, the hexagon injected an estimated approximately 42.7 billion euros in R & D, or 2.16 of the GDP. This is less than Germany (more than 60 billion euros), but better than United Kingdom (about 35 billion). Last year, the public power devoted 1.04 of GDP to research. A kind of world record that highlights the weakness of the hexagonal industrial fabric very oriented activities low content technology ("Les Echos" of October 23, 2008). The ongoing reforms aim, as across the Rhine to create high-end universities 15. Jean Chambaz indication for "differentiation" that questioned an egalitarian model widely mythifié. This transition to the performance will not without gnashing of teeth. As noted recently, Bertrand Bellon, Professor of Economics at Paris-South-XI: "little by little, the universities of excellence will be more closed clubs attracting the best students and the teachers who will be in turn the first proponents of the best universities."