FRENCH INNOVATION EVENT: SEEKING U.S. PARTICIPATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 007691

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR OES A/AS ROCK, OES/PCI & STC, EUR/ERA (O'KEEFFE),
EUR/WE and PA
DEPT PASS NSF FOR INTERNATIONAL/GOMBAY
DEPT PASS SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
SBA PLS PASS SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROGRAM
WHITE HOUSE FOR OSTP GARDNER
DOE FOR SCIENCE & INTL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION
HHS FOR NIH
USDOC FOR TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION, PLS PASS NIST
NIST FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPL TPHY TNGD KPAO FR
SUBJECT: FRENCH INNOVATION EVENT: SEEKING U.S. PARTICIPATION


PLEASE DISSEMINATE THIS MESSAGE WIDELY IN USG INNOVATION
COMMUNITY. THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE. PLEASE SEE PARA 11.


1. Summary: Eminent scientist and former French presidential
scientific advisor Professor Jean Audouze called on Embassy
recently to urge U.S. participation in the second European
Research and Innovation Exhibition and associated conference
to be held June 8-11, 2006 in Paris. The Embassy views this
event as a unique opportunity for USG technology and
innovation officials and representatives of U.S. scientific
agencies, as well as private science institutions (e.g.,
AAAS, the National Academies),to gain a better
understanding of the research and innovation developments
underway in France and Europe. In 2005, the Government of
France in particular has dramatically re-oriented its
research and innovation sector.


2. Summary continued: The Embassy herewith conveys
Professor Audouze's request that a U.S. delegation
participate in the June event to engage French and European
counterparts and discuss developments on the U.S. front. In
addition to cementing U.S., French, and European research
ties, U.S. participation would also present a public
diplomacy opportunity, as U.S. research and innovation
architecture and policies are widely envied and modeled in
Europe. A U.S. technology delegation might also visit the
new French Agence Nationale de la Recherche, as well as
revitalized poles of competitiveness. End summary.

Inviting in U.S. Participation
--------------


3. On October 25, astrophysicist Jean Audouze called on
Embassy officers to promote U.S. participation in the second
European Research and Innovation Exhibition (ERIE),to be
held in Paris on June 8-11, 2006. A renowned scientist (see
para 12),Audouze is the founder of this initiative, which
first took place in June 2005. He is also Chairman of the
Exhibition Scientific Committee that includes eighty
distinguished members.

What's it all about?
--------------


4. The exhibition and associated conference is designed to
bring together the major players in scientific,
entrepreneurial, and institutional circles: public and
private research laboratories, innovative SMEs, start-ups,
universities and elite colleges, technology centers,
institutional players, legal, financial, and industrial
partners, and associations. ERIE also seeks to attract and
inform the public and to "convince more young people that
the R&D sector deserves their attention."


5. The metrics of last year's event were impressive: It
attracted 24,000 visitors (55% employed as science
professionals; 36% associated with R&D; and 35% managers)
during its three-day duration. One hundred and thirty
exhibitors came from 41 countries and 160 speakers
participated in 90 conferences and round-table discussions.

2006 - Special Year
--------------


6. The four-day event (June 8-11, 2006) will tackle a range
of research, scientific, and innovation themes: mathematics
and computer science; fundamental physics and chemistry;
life sciences; earth and space sciences; engineering
processes and science; political science, law and economics;
human and social sciences; health; energy; land
transportation; aeronautics and space; construction and
habitat; materials; education; new information and media
technologies; administration of research and innovation;
funding research and innovation. Audouze said that the 2006
event would also highlight the extensive institutional
changes in research in France and Europe in 2005 and 2006.
The event also hopes to focus attention on R&D developments
in the energy sector, e.g., clean cars, hydrogen and fuel
cells, nuclear fusion (ITER).
India and beyond
--------------


7. Besides the almost 100 scheduled conferences and round-
tables, visitors will be able to attend exhibitors'
presentations (workshops, experiments, films, educational
games). The 2005 event featured Hungarian research. Next
year's guest-of-honor will be India, highlighting the
organizers' intent to broaden its dimension beyond Europe.
U.S. star performance
--------------


8. Five levels of participation:

-- U.S. speakers in conferences;
-- Written contributions to the 2006 Exhibition Directory;
-- Identification of U.S. leaders of the scientific
community to join the Scientific Committee to help guide the
organization of future events and the selection of guest
speakers. (For more information on existing members of the
scientific committee, see http://www.salon-de-la-
recherche.com/UK-1/the-scientific-committee.h tml.)
-- Presence of U.S. exhibitors (USG agencies, universities,
and U.S. firms with research interests/capabilities);
-- U.S. senior officials to participate in inaugural event
and other key sessions. (Organizers expect senior European
and Indian research representation.)

The right stuff
--------------


9. In France and in Europe the research mantra continues to
resonate strongly. At the EU level, the Commission sees
2006 as a "critical year" for Lisbon action (aimed at
increasing investment in European R&D to three percent of
GDP by 2010). In France, the long-awaited Research and
Innovation Bill (see Paris 7023) should be adopted in early
2006, leading to the implementation of new structures to
reinforce France's strategic orientation capacities and
increase the international competitiveness of research labs.
U.S. Embassy Paris views the June 2006 ERIE as an unique
opportunity for USG representatives to meet new, key players
in the French and EU R&D field.


10. ERIE is also an opportunity to promote U.S. efforts and
achievements in areas of worldwide interest and concern
(climate change/environmental protection/earth observation,
sustainable development, biomedical research/genetics, food
safety, human health) and to highlight collaborative
prospects offered by researchers and innovators in the U.S.
French organizers consider participation wide open for any
U.S. agency or association interested in innovation and
science. Audouze thought the following agencies or
scientific associations might find participation valuable:
OSTP, NSF, DOE, HHS, NIH, OES, NOAA, NIST, ATP, SBA, SBIR,
AAAS, and NAS.


11. ACTION: The ERIE scientific committee plans to meet
with French Ministry of Research officials during the second
half of November to refine topics for the 2006 event.
Professor Audouze has invited an Embassy representative to
participate in the planning session. Embassy would
appreciate feedback soonest whether addressee agencies might
be interested in participating in the June event.
(Regrettably, the Embassy would be unable to underwrite
travel/per diem for U.S. participants.) For further
information, see the bilingual website: www.european-
research-exhibition.com; www.salon-de-la-recherche.com.


12. Biography: Jean Audouze, astrophysicist and senior
researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research
(CNRS),served as Scientific Advisor to the President from
1989 to 1993, and Director of the Palais de la Decouverte
(Paris' original science museum) from 1998 to 2004. Earlier
in his career (1974 to 1989),he lectured in physics at the
Ecole Polytechnique. A senior lecturer at the Institut des
Sciences Politiques de Paris since 1990, he is also Vice-
President of the French National Commission for UNESCO and
French representative on the Committee on Space Research.
Audouze has also taught at several major U.S. universities
and is eager to promote French/U.S. synergies in the science
and research sectors.

STAPLETON