The French Academy of Sciences calls for a change of course in French research funding plans
News
Mathieu Baumer
In a letter sent to all members of parliament on December 9 , the Académie des sciences is alarmed by the worrying budget forecasts for research in 2026. It calls for a change of course, recalling that research and higher education must be recognized for what they are: strategic investments in the Nation's future, not budgetary adjustment variables.
Scientific research, beyond its mission to stimulate intelligence and influence culture, nurtures innovation, an essential driver of our country's economic growth and technological sovereignty. It also determines our ability to respond to environmental challenges, energy needs and improved health. Many developed countries have understood this strategic challenge: they now devote 3% or more of their GDP to public and private research. France, on the other hand, has gradually deviated from this trajectory, and all available indicators now show a decline in France's position in research and innovation, a major cause for concern as to our ability to remain a significant player on the world stage.