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French research: new international outreach
Growing numbers of foreign researchers are settling in France
In 2003, France was ranked fifth in the world for total R&D spending; today she accounts for nearly a fifth of the EU’s total R&D expenditure. In 2004, she produced 5% of the world’s scientific publications in the physical and life sciences. In the past 15 years, French researchers have won 4 Nobel Prizes and 4 Fields Medals. France is among the top five countries chosen by expatriate researchers.
At the beginning of 2007, the CNRS (French national organization for scientific research, comparable to UK Science Research Council) had 1,439 foreign employees out of its 11,677 researchers. In 2006, 1 in 5 of the research associates recruited by the CNRS was foreign. Two thirds of them were from other EU countries.
Many foreign researchers come to France on post-doctoral scholarships or on three-year contracts which can be renewed once. Some decide to take the CNRS competitive entry examination. If successful, these young researchers obtain posts, guaranteeing them long-term employment.
Carrying out research in France has many benefits for foreign researchers. France offers an attractive scientific environment, particularly thanks to the freedom researchers are allowed in their work and the high calibre of the French teams. Other magnets for young researchers are the extent of welfare cover in France and excellent quality of life.
French research is being tailored to international competitiveness and seeing its resources increased
The French research system has been overhauled, and in April 2006 France adopted a Research Pact (new legal framework and budgetary measures). The aim is to enable France to compete in the world and adapt to the new internationalization of research, while also offering more attractive careers, with more opportunities for future development, and facilitating cooperation between researchers.
The Pact provides for a €24 billion research budget by 2010, i.e. up 24% compared with 2004, and for the creation of 6,000 jobs between 2005 and 2007.
France has also set up "Campus France" a new agency with a €27 million budget to support our researchers’ international mobility and promote French research and higher education. The aim is to attract more students and researchers to French universities, thanks to an increasing number of scholarships and new partnerships.
http://www.pactepourlarecherche.fr/fr/
Last updated: 12.04.2007