More Incentives for Research Partnerships, Evaluation and Innovation

The Pact for Research includes various measures designed to give companies incentive to increase their work in research and development (R&D), encourage evaluation of public research – especially by more closely interconnecting public and private research and promoting development of R&D activities in our territories. Some measures are financial (allocation of subsidies and reduced expenditures); others rely on a better structuring of our public research potential.

Making Careers in Research More Attractive

In an interest to make commitments to progress sustainable, the major objectives are to attract better talent to scientific careers and offer prospects to young researchers. That is why institutions for research and higher education will have higher visibility and increased financial and human resources.

To encourage young people to embark on a research career path, the government has also decided to considerably improve the material resources available to doctoral candidates by raising the amount of research allowances.

Creating the Observatory for Employment in the Sciences

The Observatory for Employment in the Sciences was created to counter the negative image young people have about scientific careers. This tool gives future researchers more visibility when choosing their academic path by means of job prospects. It also helps public authorities better identify which sectors require additional attention. The Observatory for Employment in the Sciences issued its first report in February 2007.

Reforming Doctoral Studies

The decree on doctoral studies dated August 24, 2006 is an important element for implementing legislation on the Research programme. During the course of the B.M.D. (Bachelors-Masters-Doctorate) in French universities and institutions of higher education, training for young doctors in France is redefined and the role of doctorate schools is stronger. For the first time, doctorate training is recognised as "professional research experience."

Building the European Research Area (ERA)

The vitality of the French system of research and innovation is linked to its ability to be a part of the European Research Area. Also, the Pact encourages exchanges among scientists and European and national experts and prepares the various French communities, scientific and industrial, for calls for European projects in the research and development programme.