Evidently here the banking sector has a major role to play

I return again to China. I visited several towns in the Interior which are all more than 10 growth! I of course also the recent remarks of Mr Mandelson, the European Commissioner for trade: "With China, it is goods cheaper in European stores, products cheaper for businesses, lower interest..." "I share the overall judgment of the European Commission that"Europe has an economic interest in the development of China ". However, this overall judgment does not relieve me to be worried about the future of industrial employment in our continent.

Our problem is then to prepare our territories to the shock of globalization, the development of competitiveness and to improve their attractiveness. When I installed, on 1 October 2002, the strategic Committee of the Datar, I wanted a new industrial policy for the France. The reflections of the Datar, the source of competitiveness clusters policy were based on some simple ideas: rely on the jewels of French industry, play the map of innovation decompartmentalizing the world of business, research and training, free private and public initiative and appeal to the talent of the territories. Thus, the Interdepartmental Committee on 14 September 2004 would put the France in the course of modernity and therefore competitiveness.

Is it necessary to go forward in a thousand times built demonstration already undertaken by many countries Obviously, the best response was made by the enthusiasm that led to this approach that placed the State not in its traditional role of donor of lessons but as a partner for development by the actual actors in the economic and social development. Beyond the immediate success of this initiative has met with funding provided by the State agencies and local authorities, it is probably too early to make the slightest assessment, if it is and it is already a very positive result innovations in gestation will allow to create together designed development projects by the research centresthe PMI and major groups. If it is, also, the progressive development, but he must hurry, an ecosystem of high-tech medium-sized enterprises. Evidently, here, the banking sector has a major role to play.

This policy accompanied by public authorities remains fragile because its success that its positive effects on the real competitiveness of companies France and, thereby, the creation of value and jobs is closely linked to the involvement of companies, researchers and the academic world. Therefore, ensure that the aspirations of each is supported by the inspiration of others!

In a Word, it should be avoided that this policy is only motivated by devices and other procedures technocratic or it is blurred by time consuming and economically sterile media stirring.

The best way, in the term, to verify the reality of the process initiated would be the "disconnect" public financing and see that it continues! Make sure, also, to maintain the spirit of an interdepartmental approach which alone can guarantee against the return of an all-knowing State and logic "top-down". Competitiveness clusters policy, designed as an industrial policy to promote the initiative of the territories, is not the only answer to the economic development of the country. Therefore, attention must be paid to not load the poles to them only all the problems facing French economy and society. This single point of view, it seems counterproductive to multiply the number of Poles, especially if they come to compete with existing poles: in addition to the scattering of funding, their readability would be less worthy and their mass critical less attractive. A pole is not a gift to elected officials, but a project for the country.

This assumes that the State, after having defined a policy attaches to stop a stable strategy to inform the choice of companies, research and training centres. It is in this sense that a thoughtful extension of the portfolio of the poles can be considered by incorporating not yet covered areas such as for example the financial industry.

It is also in the sense that public policies must converge to improve the efficiency of the expenditure. I think here at a better articulation of the agencies ANR, AII, OSEO who, beyond their specific and sometimes too institutional roadmap, must also participate in the development of competitiveness poles. The establishment of thematic networks for advanced research (network), if they are articulated with the Poles, could be an example to follow in my eyes. We will discuss all these advances in a seminar that I organized in the Senate today with the Foundation foresight and Innovation.

Finally, it is prohibited to use wisely what authorized act: experimentation. All the poles may not immediately develop actions all over the place in the field of economic intelligence, international development or human resources or training yet. There, a strategist State must promote, support and ensure that each experience can benefit others. And why the State does not apply to itself the logic of competitiveness clusters: decompartmentalization, consistency, networking As early as now an emergency arises: launch our poles in the international field. I still see too many world fairs where the France prefers to make its structures over its projects. The presentation of our competitiveness clusters would foster promotion of our projects while rewarding our companies, our universities and our territories. When the organization in China to our "tour of the poles" The policy of the poles is enter the France in the modernity of economic development. It is fragile. Let us the waste not, no alternative is.