Governance of research and innovation policies

This chapter examines the governance of the French research and innovation system, which strongly influences the general effectiveness of the system and the effectiveness of political interventions. It presents the main institutions responsible for the system and the relationships between them. The ministries chiefly involved are the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Economy. The General Commission for Investment, which is responsible for the “Investments for the Future” Programme, plays a pivotal role. “Vertical co-ordination” refers to relations between these entities and the research organisations and universities. Evaluation is becoming more and more important. Local and regional authorities are increasingly involved in supporting research and innovation, as are the European institutions, prompting the Government to redefine the scope of its own intervention.