France to spend 1.5 bn euros on "poles of competitiveness"[fr] 

The French government picked six industrial clusters and 61 further "poles of competitiveness" to reinvigorate the country's economic competitiveness. It also doubled the amount of money it wants to invest into these projects to 1.5 billion euro.

The French prime minister named six clusters which are world leaders in their sector and promised tax breaks and more research funds for the poles of competitiveness. Sectors such as neurosciences and complex systems, aeronautics (Airbus), nanotechnology, health and secure communication systems will receive state support. With this support, the French government intends to counter the trend of moving research to the US or other competitive countries.