Enhance the attractiveness of scientific careers and research investments. » This is one of the four pillars of the 2025 budget of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. However, despite announcing an additional funding of 89 million euros - which has been put on hold due to censorship - all links in the healthcare chain agree that France's investment is still insufficient.
In 2021, a state of the research situation in France drew up a first mixed assessment: In 2021, domestic research accounted for 2.22% of GDP, lower than the EU's target of 3% Above all, health has been the poor parent of research grants for 10 years. The country spends about 17% on health biology research, compared to 35% to 40% for neighbouring European countries and up to 50% for the UK, according to 2020 figures.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it is evident that this line has not changed much. However, Emmanuel Macron launched 16 new plans in May 2023 to accelerate health research and innovation in France by 2030, and created an innovation agency by the end of 2022. Beyond Chiba's complex research institutions Unfortunately Frédéric Bizard, health economist.
Too much bureaucracy
In addition to the long-standing problem of insufficient funding that has plagued health research in recent years, France has also been punished for its bureaucracy. “We’re constantly writing to get funding.” Enzo Polier, an immunology researcher at the Pasteur Institute, said. In clinical trials, slow administration is more pronounced. France often lags behind Spain or Germany, with the latter being faster in establishing research centers to achieve research continuity.
« There is also little relationship between public research and startups. Fr é d é ric Bizard explained. . We must establish a cluster that combines public research, private actors, and training centers in the same place, just like Germany or the United States. ».
However, the researchers added that Due to reasons that I cannot understand, France has no intention of accelerating health research The answer may lie in the literary careers of government members. Anyway, this is what it has senior Emmanuelle Charpentier, winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry l'Express For example, in Germany, under the leadership of former Chancellor and trained scientist Angela Merkel, over 3% of GDP is allocated to research.
Artificial intelligence, a new hope for competitiveness
« We have another cultural issue. The health department believes that industry and research are not their concerns ”Fr é d é ric Bizard added. He believes that responsibility is not only related to leaders, but also to all actors in the health sector who have not fully cooperated. However, France has internationally recognized excellent scientific training. In terms of the funding provided by France and its potential for use, the emerging field is artificial intelligence (AI).
The latter capitalizes on much of the government's funding focus, and several projects are already targeted at the health sector to improve efficiency in research, thereby lowering costs.
"Previously, the average time from discovery of a new molecule to ingestion by the patient took about 10 to 15 years. With AI, research steps now go twice as fast." Entrust us Alan Russell is the Vice President of Research at Amgen, a leading biotechnology company.
He estimates that in the future, it will only take a few months from discovery to product delivery. Even artificial intelligence may have discovered the molecules of interest on its own. A promising prospect in the field of research, closely related to other areas of the health sector. The University Hospital Center (CHU) is losing its appeal because research is also a source of motivation for many private sector doctors Frederick Bizard recalled. According to the latest data on hospital public services, 98% of public hospitals are facing pressure in recruiting for at least one medical specialty.