Research and Innovation background
R&I Background
The National Research and Innovation Strategy, France 2030, gives an overview of research and innovation challenges faced by France, and establishes priorities and the allocation of public funding. The strategy provides a strategic agenda for research, technology transfer and innovation that will guide public research support over the long term. It pursues 10 objectives to better understand, live better and produce by 2030:
- To develop small, innovative nuclear reactors with better waste management;
- Become the leader in green hydrogen;
- Decarbonising the industry;
- Produce nearly 2 million electric and hybrid vehicles;
- Produce the first low-carbon aircraft;
- Invest in healthy, sustainable and traceable food;
- Produce 20 biomedicines against cancers, chronic diseases including age-related diseases and create the medical devices of tomorrow;
- Placing France back at the forefront of the production of cultural and creative content;
- Take full part in the new space adventure;
- Invest in the seabed field.
The framework for the development of economic sectors is the ‘Grenelle Environment'. Through these laws, the French Government supports the development of an environmentally friendly economy by introducing measures for different economic sectors including energy, construction, transport and agriculture.
Grenelle 1 sees the Government committed to halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, whilst Grenelle 2 law, known as the "National Environmental Commitment Act", focuses on building, transport, energy consumption, biodiversity and management, waste and governance.
The Grenelle Environment is the trigger for many changes and developments at the economic, human and territorial levels. Various achievements have already been made at the national level and within the territories. Specifically on transport, the country have seen the introduction of the "bonus-malus" system for vehicles, various rail motorway projects, the port reform, and the first maritime highway.
France Relance (2020) is another key strategy document which outlines France’s strategy for economic recovery and transformation following the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on green and digital transitions, with significant investments in research and innovation to support sustainable development, technological advancement, and economic resilience
Institutional framework of transport research
Framework
Research policy planning in France spans across different levels:
- Administrative level
- Ministry of Higher Education and Research: This Ministry is responsible for designing and coordinating national research policies. It is supported by the following advisory bodies:
- High Council for Science and Technology(HCST): Advises the Prime Minister on national research and innovation strategies.
- High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (HCERES): Assesses the quality and impact of research and higher education institutions.
- Ministry for Economy, Finance and Recovery: Oversees industrial and energy research and plays a key role in supporting private sector research.
- Ministry of Ecological Transition: This Ministry is in charge of Rail Transport ; River Transport, Sea and Ports ; and Road Transport , exercises its powers in two distinct areas: infrastructure, transport and the sea on the one hand, and civil aviation on the other. Under the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the National Council for Ecological Transition is the forum for dialogue on ecological transition and sustainable development, with aims to strengthen environmental social dialogue.
- Operational Level
- OSEO innovation: Supports business, particularly SMEs, with funding and assistance for R&D and innovation projects.
- National Research Agency (ANR) : Provides competitive grants for fundamental research projects across various scientific disciplines.
- Environment and Energy Management Agency(ADAME): Funds and supports research focused on environmental and energy issues, often through partnerships.
- Competitiveness Clusters: Regional collaborations between large and small businesses, research laboratories, and educational institutions to foster innovation and synergies within specific sectors.
- Public Research Organisations
- National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS): A key public research institution involved in implementing research policies and conducting fundamental research.
Funding Sources and Support Initiatives
Funding & Support
Transport research in France benefits from a range of funding sources, including both general research frameworks and programmes specifically dedicated to transport. Additionally, transport research can access funding from related areas such as energy and environment, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of many research projects.
The current major programmes for funding transport research are:
- Pôle Véhicule du Futur: This programme fosters collaboration among industrial, academic, and training entities to advance future vehicle technologies and mobility solutions. It enhances synergies across different sectors involved in the development of innovative transport solutions.
- Investments for the Future Programme: An initiative aimed at boosting growth through investments in higher education, research, industry, SMEs, sustainable development, and digitalisation. This programme supports projects that drive technological advancement and sustainability, including those in the transport sector.
- Interreg V-A - Italy-France (Maritime) Programme: This programme promotes entrepreneurship, a safer environment, the valorisation of natural and cultural resources, sustainable mobility and social inclusion through economic development. At the same time, it addresses climate change issues, connection of secondary and tertiary nodes to the TEN-T network and joint training schemes in the cross border area.
- Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME): ADEME occasionally launches calls for project relevant to transport.
- EVE Programme: The programme of Voluntary Commitments for the Environment of actors in the logistics chain and passenger transport. The programme provides methodological support for companies in their policy of reducing their greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. There is a promotion of synergy between all actors in the logistics chain and transport in order to strengthen the effectiveness of actions to control fossil energy consumption.
Other regional programmes for the period 2021-2027 include:
- Programme Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and territories Rhône Saône and Massif Central ERDF-ESF+-JTF 2021-2027: The programme will mainly invest in research, development and innovation; digitalisation of the territory; competitiveness of enterprises; the energy transition and climate change adaptation; waste management and biodiversity; (urban) mobility and health services.
- Programme Bretagne ERDF-ESF+ 2021-2027: This programme aims to make the region more attractive, innovative, green and inclusive, while tackling the territorial imbalances between urban and rural areas.
- Programme Centre-Val de Loire and interregional Loire ERDF-ESF+ 2021-2027: The new programme aims to address the structural impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of the economic, environmental, digital and social transition, while working for a sustainable and inclusive territory.
- Programme Corse ERDF-ESF+ 2021-2027: Targets four strategic objectives of the European Union, identifying six priorities for intervention in order to address the following threefold challenge: strengthening the competitiveness, regional innovation and digitalization; supporting adaptation to climate change and ecological transition; strengthening cohesion and attractiveness.
- Programme Réunion ERDF-ESF+ 2021-2027: Focuses on improving the attractiveness, innovation, and inclusiveness of Réunion through ERDF, ESF+, and specific allocations for outermost regions. The programme supports regional development and green transition efforts.
- Programme Sud - Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Massif des Alpes ERDF-ESF+-JTF 2021-2027: Aims to enhance the region’s attractiveness and innovation, with a strong emphasis on the green transition. Investments include energy efficiency, sustainable urban mobility, and renewable energy projects.
- Programme Guadeloupe ERDF-ESF+ 2021-2027: The programme supports a gradual introduction of urban sustainable transport and improve transport links with a focus on air connections.
- Programme Guyane ERDF-ESF+ 2021-2027: Focuses on economic recovery and mitigating the economic impacts of the health crisis. It also invests in sustainable water use, circular economy initiatives, and urban mobility in line with environmental goals.
- Programme Hauts de France ERDF-ESF+-JTF 2021-2027: Aims to make the region more resilient, inclusive, competitive, and sustainable. The programme supports the green transition with investments in sustainable urban mobility, energy efficiency, and climate change adaptation.
- Programme Martinique ERDF-ESF+ 2021-2027: Cohesion funds will also be mobilised for the region's green transition, which entails the adaptation to climate change, the support for sustainable urban mobility and measures to ensure a safe and sustainable water supply.
- Programme Mayotte ERDF 2021-2027: This programme aims to support economic recovery and to remedy to the economic downturn caused by the health crisis. It counterbalances major structural investment gaps, especially regarding the access to drinking water, wastewater management and transport infrastructure.
- Programme Normandie ERDF-ESF+-JTF 2021-2027: Aims to make Normandy a more resilient, inclusive, competitive, and structurally sustainable region.
- Programme Nouvelle-Aquitaine ERDF-ESF+ 2021-2027: Aims to make the region more attractive, innovative, green and inclusive. To that end, investment into the green and digital transition will play a key role.
- Programme Occitanie ERDF-ESF+ 2021-2027: Aims to redress the limited access to equipment, infrastructure, education, employment and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
- Programme Pays de la Loire ERDF-ESF+-JTF 2021-2027: Aims to support the economic, demographic, digital, environmental and energy transitions of the region and its citizens. The programme will highly support European Climate ambition by cutting energy emissions, promoting sustainable urban mobility, protecting biodiversity and water quality and developing renewable energy.
(Last updated: 04/11/2024)