'Museum National d''Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France'
Abstract
This article elaborates on the specificities of the Defence in innovation processes in the
context of knowledge based economics. It suggests that understanding the role of Defence in
innovation requires taking into account its status of final user of very specific technological
projects. Defence may hold two statuses: owner and/or lead user. These contribute to
understand its role as regards the various levels of its active intervention. This article explains
in which cases the Defence might be assimilated to an owner and to a lead user in France and
in the United States. It makes precise the implications of these roles in order to appraise the Defence's involvement in the innovation networks. This article underlines the importance of
the variety of competences required or the Defence user (as a lead user and/or an owner).ou
