France’s 2008 budget, which was announced this month, provides a €1.88 billion ($2.66 billion) boost to the budget for higher education and research, an increase of 7.8%. From this funding increase, €1 billion ($1.4 billion) will go to higher education and €880 million ($1.2 billion) will go to research. Funding for research includes a €22 million ($31 million) allocation to assist in purchases. The National Research Agency and the Oséo Innovation Agency received funding increases of €190 million ($183.9 million) and €60 million ($84.9 million), respectively. To encourage industry’s support of scientific research, the budget includes a €390 million ($551.7 million) increase for France’s research tax credit program; this program has a €2.7 billion ($3.8 billion) allocation for 2008.

Source: Ministry of Higher Education and Research