Abstract This paper is concerned with the dynamic of intervention by public authorities in the domain of research and innovation. It has a dual objective. On the one hand, it seeks to challenge the stereotyped image of the French system, presented in the literature as completely characterised by the dominant role of a Colbertist state (that is to say an interventionist model which places emphasis on the dominant weight of large civil and defence programmes, on the division between the universities and the CNRS, on the congenital separation between research and firms, on the monopolisation of public support by certain large industrial groups). Evolutionary changes are described, which prove that this classic image is no longer relevant in capturing the current dynamic of the French research and innovation system. On the other hand, this paper seeks to show that this challenge is a consequence of close examination of the relevance of the notion of “national policy for research and technology” itself. Alongside national policy, regional and European policies are emerging, the effects of which are so important that public intervention can no longer be seen only in terms of national policy.
[1]
Vincent Mangematin,et al.
Profile of public laboratories, industrial partnerships and organisation of R & D: the dynamics of industrial relationships in a large research organisation
,
1996
.
[2]
Philippe Larédo,et al.
The networks promoted by the framework programme and the questions they raise about its formulation and implementation
,
1998
.
[3]
H. Ergas.
Does Technology Policy Matter?
,
1986
.
[4]
Luca Guzzetti,et al.
A Brief History of European Union Research Policy
,
1995
.
[5]
R. Nelson,et al.
National Innovation Systems
,
1993
.