Towards a Coherent European Strategy for Industry—Higher Education Collaboration in the Exploitation of Research

All researchers in science and technology ask themselves what is the purpose of scientific research, be they in fundamental or applied research. The state is duty-bound to make those involved in research aware of their responsibilities and, in so doing, to encourage the academic sector to work for the resolution of major social and economic problems. The ‘valorisation’, or commercial exploitation, of research has become a necessity. France and the UK face similar challenges, and have essentially similar schemes – CIFRE and TCS – which use different means to achieve a common objective. The author argues that it makes obvious good sense for the two countries to combine their efforts and work in conjunction with firms to devise a rational strategy adapted to needs at the regional, national, and European levels. This approach, suggests the author, needs to be extended across all European Union member states to achieve a coordinated and mutually beneficial strategic policy for the transfer of technological innovation from academic research to commercial application and exploitation.