Making research the cornerstone of progress

The world has changed. The framework of globalization based on comparative advantages is fading away in favor of new logics of power, marked by a techno-imperialism where mastery of technologies, data and innovation capabilities redefines the hierarchy between nations. Science and technology capabilities now determine the place in the global economy.

In this context, research becomes a central strategic infrastructure. It is at the heart of technological, economic, military and cultural sovereignty. Higher education and research can no longer be thought of as support sectors, but as the very foundation of power capabilities.
The notion of dual research sheds light on this transformation: disruptive innovations mainly emerge from the civilian field—universities, laboratories, open ecosystems—before fueling industrial and strategic uses. Strengthening public research therefore means investing directly in the capacities of innovation and sovereignty.

The policies of excellence have shown their effectiveness. Devices like LABEX have generated measurable effects, with associated companies increasing their R&D intensity by around 20%. These results recall that research is a productive investment, whose impact depends on the quality of interactions between public and private actors. The central question remains: how can we transform this scientific excellence into a lever of power, without renouncing the openness that is the strength of research?