What Strategy Should France Implement for H2020?

¹ DRCD, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France
² GIRCI Ile-de-France, Hôpital Saint Louis, Paris, France
³ F-CRIN, Toulouse, France
⁴ Laboratoire Sanofi France, Paris, France
⁵ Inserm Transfert, Paris, France
⁶ Laboratoire Boehringer Ingelheim, Paris, France
⁷ AP-HM, Marseille, France
⁸ ECRIN, Paris, France
⁹ CHU de Limoges, Limoges, France
¹⁰ Laboratoire Glaxosmithkline, Les Ulis, France
¹¹ Pharmacologie Clinique et Pharmacovigilance, AP-HM, Marseille, France
¹² CIC CPCET, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France
¹³ CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France
¹⁴ SR Consulting, Paris, France
¹⁵ Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Paris, France
¹⁶ DBV Technologies, Bagneux, France
¹⁷ French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Paris, France
¹⁸ Truffle Capital, Paris, France
¹⁹ Hôpital Fernand Widal, Paris, France

Correspondence and offprints: Jean-François Dhainault, Président du GIRCI “Île-de-France”, Carré historique, Secteur gris, Porte 23, Hôpital Saint Louis, 1 avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris, France E-mail: jean-francois.dhainaut@drc.aphp.fr
Vincent Diebolt, F-CRIN, Immeuble AROPA, 35 rue Bernard de Ventadour, 31300 Toulouse, France E-mail: vincent.diebolt@inserm.fr
Brigitte Pouletty-Lefevre, Laboratoire Sanofi France, 9 boulevard Romain Rolland, 75159 Paris cedex 14, France. E-mail: brigitte.pouletty-lefebvre@sanofi.com

Received: 29 January 2015
Accepted: 30 January 2015

Abstract

The initiation of Horizon 2020—the European Union’s 8th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, allotted a budget of 79 billion euros—provides an opportunity to review France’s participation in previous Framework Programmes. Indeed, French participation does not match either its scientific importance or its financial investment. While France contributed 16.5 to 17% of the EU’s 7th Framework Programme research budget, its return through the funding of coordinated projects in which French teams are participating stands at around 12.5 to 13%, a shortfall of 600 million euros. Although the situation depends on the type of activity, French participation in clinical research appears to be smaller than that of its neighbours, with fewer responses to European calls for proposals.

While France has many assets, which include the assured funding of clinical research, structured thematic networks and the initiation of major national programmes, it suffers from the dilution of resources due to France’s regional development policy, the lack of multidisciplinarity and the ignorance of both the medical and scientific community and the institutions to which they belong as to how Horizon 2020 actually works.

We propose three types of strategy to encourage proposals for coordinated clinical research projects or projects involving French teams, and to help in the drawing up of applications: Broaden the vision of our children, students and colleagues, helping them to adapt to the globalisation of knowledge throughout their educational and professional lives. Recognise the value of European actions to influence the European landscape and change mentalities. Help and support project initiators by pooling skills within a limited number of expert centres designed to assist them in their funding application.

• Broaden the vision of our children, students and colleagues, helping them to adapt to the globalisation of knowledge throughout their educational and professional lives.

• Recognise the value of European actions to influence the European landscape and change mentalities.

• Help and support project initiators by pooling skills within a limited number of expert centres designed to assist them in their funding application.