Institutes linking research and industry to be strengthened

The Carnot institutes, a group of 34 centres inspired by Germany's Fraunhofer network, are to enter a third phase of development, dubbed Carnot 3.0, in 2016.

In January, the Carnot 3.0 Commission presented a set of recommendations to the government on how to develop the network following its initial set-up from 2006 to 2011 and its consolidation phase from 2011 to 2015.

The reviewers praised the system as a “real success in terms of strengthening links between public research and companies". They recommended opening up the Carnot network to more institutes while keeping existing ones in closer check, for example through evaluations every two years that could lead to institutes losing their place.