The state and technological competition in France or colbertism in the 20th century

Abstract

As in many western industrialized countries, the French State began to support technological research heavily after 1945. Public funds were mainly invested in high technologies (Nuclear, Aerospace, Computers) but as soon as awareness of technological backwardness of French industry made progress in the sixties, the French government decided to extend its financial support to other industrial sectors. A survey of the policies which have been worked out reveals that the French State has played the role of a bright entrepreneur without a technological and idustrial strategy, which explains why some of these policies are now at a dead end.