Significantly in the current economic context for SMEs

After three years of existence, the poles of competitiveness began the second phase of their existence. The Prime Minister had given last fall the green light so that the State continues to support the device in place in 2006. This new period triennial (2009-2011) opens at this very moment with the signing of performance contracts between the Government and each of the 71 poles. As for the first phase, an envelope of 1.5 billion euros of public credits was programmed in their favour.

As the locomotives of the device, because they bring together alone 80 of the research projects of the whole of the Poles, the 17 global competitiveness poles Presidents meet however not offered perspective. Launched dynamics in 2006, they argue, has to this day to launch some 1,400 research projects representing 5 billion euros of public investment and private, of which about 300 are "mature and ready to pass the Cape of industrialization and the placing on the market".

Multiplication of projects

A phase, which, according to a study by Apec, should generate 140,000 jobs for executives on horizon of five years and some 700,000 indirect jobs. However, when the industrialization of the projects, it would run out credits to ensure the success of the process, consider poles officials. Significantly, in the current economic context, for SMEs. To "give new impetus to the industrial policy French", according to Dominique Vernay, Chairman of the pole System ICT, and finance this step, the leaders of Poles suggest that a portion of the funds of the wealth tax collection is oriented toward adherent SMEs of the poles. Approximately EUR 300 million over three years could be identified, according to them.

At the same time the research effort must be amplified, they argue, because with the increasing number of member companies at the Poles, the projects are multiplying. However, over the calls for projects initiated by the public authorities, the rate of those funded tends to be reduced, without a parallel increase in appropriations.

Presidents of Poles claim therefore that the interdepartmental single Fund (FLED), which distributes State credits, either agreed additional EUR 200 million, which would bring the total envelope in public funds, excluding contribution of local communities, estimated it, EUR 750 million to 1.7 billion. "The financing of innovation must remain a national priority," argue the Presidents of Poles, who would also that 100 million allocated to innovation platforms, and taken from this year on the grounds of the SCURRYING, be funding to share.

Growth sectors

The Presidents of Poles announced Friday in Paris that they would take their Pilgrim stick to also convince national and local policy makers to focus, in the longer term, on growth sectors, such as the Internet of the future, the sustainable city, the environmental technologies, health, the marine biotech, nanotechnology or the cleantechs. Why not a call for projects specific to these areas for the future which could be allocated EUR 300 million over the period (2009-2011), suggest. The cost of the proposed financial measures, less than EUR 1 billion, will allow to "7.2 billion investments of the period", said Henri Verdier, President of the pole Cap Digital.