Linking two Instruments for a Better Innovation Policy-Mix: the French Case of the National Research Agency and the Competitiveness Clusters.

Since 2004, investigations and debates have been carried out on the French research and innovation system. Policy-makers have tried to break with the traditional ‘colbertist’ state- centered model, which put emphasis on interventionism and state involvement. This system that was successful until the 80ies, seems unfit to the increasingly competitive and knowledge-driven economy. The French model is also challenged by the changes in the policy context, as new actors such as regions, and constraints such as the Lisbon agenda are framing policy-making and implementation in the arena of research and innovation policies. The new Law for research aims at reforming the organisation of the research and innovation system, mostly by creating new structures, at the governance level, such as the National Research Agency (ANR), and at the research and innovation production level, such as the Competitiveness Clusters. The aim of this paper is to provide a case study that illustrates empirically the challenges of the setting up of these two new structures, and their difficulties to combine their actions. This qualitative research highlights the need for coordination and communication to reduce uncertainties and redundancies. Our work illustrates that the new organisation of the research and innovation system consists of creating more and more structures, without thinking in terms of policy-mix. A policy-mix perspective, that is to say a combination and balance of the different instruments would provide a better coordination between the different actors of the system.Policy-mix; National Innovation system; Clusters; National Research Agency; governance;

Linking two instruments for a better innovation policy-mix: the French case of the National Research agency and the Competitiveness Clusters

Since 2004, investigations and debates have been carried out on the French research and innovation system. Policy-makers have tried to break with the traditional ‘colbertist' state-centered model, which put emphasis on interventionism and state involvement. This system that was successful until the 80ies, seems unfit to the increasingly competitive and knowledge-driven economy. The French model is also challenged by the changes in the policy context, as new actors such as regions, and constraints such as the Lisbon agenda are framing policy-making and implementation in the arena of research and innovation policies. The new Law for research aims at reforming the organisation of the research and innovation system, mostly by creating new structures, at the governance level, such as the National Research Agency (ANR), and at the research and innovation production level, such as the competitiveness clusters. The aim of this paper is to provide a case study that illustrates empirically the challenges of the setting up of these two new structures, and their difficulties to combine their actions. This qualitative research highlights the need for coordination and communication to reduce uncertainties and redundancies. Our work illustrates that the new organisation of the research and innovation system consists of creating more and more structures, without thinking in terms of policy-mix. A policy-mix perspective, that is to say a combination and balance of the different instruments would provide a better coordination between the different actors of the system.National Innovation system ; governance ; Clusters ; National Research Agency ; Policy-mix

Heurs et malheurs du pilotage par projet dans les Pôles de compétitivité

National audienc

Les pôles de compétitivité français

International audienceEn 2004, le gouvernement français, s'inspirant d'expériences étrangères et des recommandations exprimées dans divers rapports, décida de rénover sa politique industrielle par la mise en place de pôles de compétitivité répartis sur le territoire national. Quatre ans après le lancement de cette politique de pôles de compétitivité, où en est-on ? Thierry Weil et Stéphanie Fen Chong, de l'Observatoire des pôles de compétitivité, rappellent ici la genèse des pôles de compétitivité en France (systèmes précurseurs, rapports fondateurs, cahier des charges retenu, jeu des acteurs et émergence des pôles). Ils présentent ensuite les premiers enseignements qui émanent du développement de ces pôles, en termes notamment de fonctionnement des projets, de pilotage et de financement, ainsi que les lacunes et incohérences observées. Ils soulignent, à cet égard, les difficultés d'une évaluation à ce stade : les pôles sont encore jeunes et des évaluations trop précoces peuvent desservir des projets pourtant essentiels. Enfin, ils s'interrogent sur la manière d'entretenir cette dynamique industrielle, qui, selon eux, passe par la stimulation de l'apprentissage des différents acteurs concernés et, à nouveau, par une vision de long terme, non focalisée sur les tout premiers résultats observés. Title: France's Competitiveness HubsAbstract: In 2004, drawing its inspiration from foreign experiences and recommendations expressed in a number of reports, the French government decided on a new departure in industrial policy, setting up competitiveness hubs across the national territory. Four years after the launch of this policy, how do matters stand with it? Thierry Weil and Stéphanie Fen Chong from the Observatoire des pôles de compétitivité (Competitiveness Hubs Observatory) recall here the genesis of the competitiveness hubs (the precursor systems, founding reports, specifications adopted, interplay between the actors, and emergence of the hubs). They then present the first lessons arising out of the development of these hubs, particularly focusing on the operation of projects, steering and finance, and the failings and inconsistencies observed. In this connection, they stress the difficulty of making an assessment at this stage: the hubs are still young, and premature evaluations may do a disservice to projects that are, in fact, essential. Lastly, they ask how this industrial dynamic can be maintained. In their view, this involves stimulating learning on the part of the various actors concerned and, once again, a long-term vision not focussed solely on the initial outcomes observed

Linking two instruments for a better innovation policy-mix: the French case of the National Research agency and the Competitiveness Clusters

Since 2004, investigations and debates have been carried out on the French research and innovation system. Policy-makers have tried to break with the traditional ‘colbertist' state-centered model, which put emphasis on interventionism and state involvement. This system that was successful until the 80ies, seems unfit to the increasingly competitive and knowledge-driven economy. The French model is also challenged by the changes in the policy context, as new actors such as regions, and constraints such as the Lisbon agenda are framing policy-making and implementation in the arena of research and innovation policies. The new Law for research aims at reforming the organisation of the research and innovation system, mostly by creating new structures, at the governance level, such as the National Research Agency (ANR), and at the research and innovation production level, such as the competitiveness clusters. The aim of this paper is to provide a case study that illustrates empirically the challenges of the setting up of these two new structures, and their difficulties to combine their actions. This qualitative research highlights the need for coordination and communication to reduce uncertainties and redundancies. Our work illustrates that the new organisation of the research and innovation system consists of creating more and more structures, without thinking in terms of policy-mix. A policy-mix perspective, that is to say a combination and balance of the different instruments would provide a better coordination between the different actors of the system