Alain Fuchs: ‘French research ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ is in good shape’ The President of CNRS looks back at the key events of 2011 and shares his thoughts on how research is developing in France. A Nobel prize, a series of remarkable discoveries, a leading In 2011, CNRS was actively involved in the emergence of large position in international rankings: this has been an especially university poles. What are the key issues behind this strategy? fruitful year for research at CNRS, hasn’t it? Together with our academic partners, we have indeed been very These results have the virtue of reminding us of our mission, which active in setting up projects as part of the Investments for the Future is to do good, first-rate, world-class scientific research. I should add program, in a way acting as a catalyst. The distribution of award that they reflect the quality of French science as a whole, since CNRS winners that is taking shape today looks nigh on identical to the shares more than a thousand laboratories with its academic part- distribution of CNRS’s resources. We are accompanying the emer- ners. Having said that, although the quality of the French research gence of around 20 large academic sites, which are in the process of system is outstanding, there remains a significant challenge, that of identifying their areas of excellence. This is a challenge, not only for improving its visibility and therefore its attractiveness internationally. research, which will become more effective, but also for innovation. As a national organization, CNRS’s mission is to coordi- nate these academic sites, thus combining its national role with strong local involvement. However, identifying ‘Some scientific questions, however abstract areas of excellence doesn’t mean that we are abando- they may seem, can give rise to extraordinary research is also being carried out. We will continue toning other, more isolated institutions where high quality new tools.’ invest in them, while looking at ways of integrating them into a network. Lastly, many facilities do not fit into a regional approach and need to be run by national organizations such as CNRS. I’m thinking for instance of technological platforms or very In 2011, the ‘faster-than-light’ neutrinos hit the headlines. large facilities. What can be learnt from this announcement, which now appears to have been called into question? The first thing that strikes me is that nuclear physics can still make How does the CPU1-AMUE2-CNRS partnership agreement the headlines! This shows that science, however complex, continues signed in December 2011 fit in with this new strategy? to fascinate the general public. It’s also an opportunity to recall that some scientific questions, however abstract they may seem, can give This agreement means going back to basics, enabling us to reassert rise to extraordinary innovations in instruments, which in turn have our common resolve to maintain the Joint Research Unit (UMR) as the practical spin-offs, for instance in the fields of life or health sciences. basic building block of research, while the delegation of management It turns out that, in the case of the neutrinos, flaws in the instruments tasks is a tool for strategic partnership. Our groundwork has allowed us were identified by the teams working in the international particle phy- to iron out our differences and start a proper dialogue. Once trust was sics experiment, OPERA. This confirms that science is built step by established, we were able to move on to the following stage in which step, and that a theory cannot be called into question on the basis of joint working groups drew up a list of useful tools to modernize mana- a single result. It’s a very good lesson in science. gement methods. These are being developed. We will soon be able to offer resources common to CNRS and to the Universities, in particu- lar in terms of information systems, which will give Unit Directors real visibility with regard to their budgets and simplify the management of their laboratories. 4 A year at CNRS 2011
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