The government’s role in industrial development and technological innovation: france’s national policy towards nuclear energy development

Abstract

Abstract. This short article attempts to answer the question, what would be the best perimeter to
launch a sustainable and successful innovation policy? Policy towards nuclear energy in France is the
principle focus to provide a partial answer to the question. The example of the French nuclear industry,
whose creation and management pertaining to a state initiative at the end of World War Two, provides
a typical example of a sector-based development on innovation resulting from a long term tradition of
state interventionism and public initiatives, which can be described as a high tech Colbertisme. Considering
those difficulties faced by such a prominent national champion in an economic milieu, it is
questionable whether or not the adoption of the Lisbon Agenda in support of innovation and of its wide
diffusion was realistic. French nuclear operators within their national boundary have been characterised
as quasi-monopoly for such a long period of time. However, it is questionable whether it was worthwhile
for sustainable innovation, or to the contrary, it constituted mere a cumbersome obstacle constraining
further marketable value creation. Pitelis’ comprehensive strategic model, – recognising government
as an important actor as one of the determinants to sustainable value creation affecting both meso-and
macro-environment at different time periods -, to some extent fills the theoretical gap in this area.
Key words: French industrial policy, energy, nuclear, Colbertisme, state regulation.