PRESS RELEASE
29 July 2021
FLASH AUDIT
FUNDING FOR PUBLIC RESEARCH IN THE FIGHT
AGAINST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
In the context of the health crisis, the Court decided to initiate an audit that, while
respecting its professional standards, is noteworthy for the speed of its investigation,
carried out within four months. This work is presented as an initial assessment of the
financial effort made to support public research in the fight against the pandemic, over the
period from 1 January 2020 to 1 March 2021.
The state of research funding
Over the period from January 2020 to March 2021,
the total volume of public resources made
available in France was around €502 million, or €530 million with European funds.
This effort
is less, in absolute terms and relatively, than that of other European countries with
comparable scientific resources and infrastructure. This assessment by the Court also
illustrates the plurality and heterogeneity of financing channels.
International comparison of the distribution of public research funding in the COVID-19 crisis
Country
Amount in € billion
Germany
1.5 billion
United States
1
9.63 billion
Netherlands
0.16 billion
United Kingdom
2
1.30 billion
European Union
4.4 billion
Source: Embassies of France in Washington, London, Berlin, The Hague, RPUE.
The comparative view makes French structural difficulties more apparent, symbolised in the
eyes of public opinion by the absence of a vaccine design.
An initial assessment that reflects the scattering of research and the failure to
prioritise initiatives
Despite the particularly meritorious efforts of all the stakeholders in the French research
system, and despite the internationally recognised qualities of our researchers, the results do
not meet expectations. The dispersal of initiatives, the difficulty in fine-tuning priorities, the
unpreparedness to take risks and administrative burdens hindered the creation of a coherent
and effective response system.
1
Exchange rates as at 4 May 2021: 1.2044 (Bank of France).
2
Exchange rates as at 4 May 2021: 1.1556 (Bank of France).
Areas for improvement
The audit highlights structural deficiencies and notes that these could be corrected in three
ways:
-
organising crisis management governance and appointing a lead manager;
-
giving priority to fundamental research in biology-health;
-
ensuring a continuum between academic research and industry, in the same way that
foreign research is organised.
Read the audit
PRESS CONTACT:
Emmanuel Kessler
Head of Communications
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01 42 98 55 62
emmanuel.kessler@ccomptes.fr
@Courdescomptes
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