The networks promoted by the framework programme and the questions they raise about its formulation and implementation

This article reviews the impacts of European Union (EU) research policy by analysing its effects on French participants. It highlights three main network configurations through which effects are obtained and which provide renewed translations of the goals of EU research policy. Pre-competitiveness is linked to basic technological networks. 'Innovation networks' help support the 'international competitiveness of European industry'. Finally, networks centred on innovation in collective goods provide support for other EU sectoral policies. These results question the formulation of EU research policy, and especially its only tool for implementation, the specific research programmes and the thematic calls for proposals. The results also suggest other changes in policy, such as calls based can different types of networks to be promoted or the delegation of programme implementation to special agencies. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.