Research and Development

A first-rate choice for R&D investments

France has massively raised R&D investments by becoming the first European choice for the creation of R&D jobs in 2002! Up by 40%, the R&D sector now represents 10% of jobs created, thanks to foreign investment.

Lyon has taken advantage of these international capital flows: Rhône-Alpes has become the leading destination for foreign investors in France, with 4,068 jobs created in 2002.

R&D in France

In 2002, the European Union governments allocated more than 69 billion euros of budget expenditure to R&D. That corresponds to 0.75% of GDP.

The total value of R&D public expenditure in the European Union nevertheless reveals major differences between the member states.

In France, the GOVERD (R&D Expenditure in the Government Sector) ratio as a percentage of GDP was higher in 2002 than the EU average (0.75%).

Tax legislation favorable to the setting up of R&D centers in France

R&D centers are granted a tax credit (maximum amount: 6.1 million euros per year) equal to 50% of the expenditure increase of that year, compared to the average amount of expenditure over the previous two years.