Editorial

EDITORIAL

The relationship between research, innovation, markets, companies, the state and public space, and more generally the relationship between science and society, have undergone profound changes. Researchers propose a "new contract" between science and the rest of society, while other reflections call for the emergence of scientific third sector, which is producer of knowledge and innovation. Driven by this dynamic, science-business relations are then urged to renew itself. The bet is to amplify the transfer, foster innovation but also to further integrate businesses in the process of research and upstream through patents, SATT, business clusters, technology parks, clusters competitiveness, etc. Today, politicians remind the interest of a collaboration between local institutions and companies.

Rich in these thoughts and experiences, CO-SCIENCES research program (2012-2015) funded by ANR has considered science-business relations interdisciplinary and intersectoral manner. The study collaborations between science and industry for the production of scientific issues in the environmental field requires researchers to combine human and social sciences (anthropology, history of science, sociology, social psychology, economics), Sciences, nature (ecology, biology) and representatives of the business world. These comparisons can only be thought about transferring the mode of scientific knowledge to industrial application. CO-SCIENCES program has studied the interactions between actors and scientists questioning the company products in-laboratory setting and couples made within thematic networks. He also seized the issue of reconciliation procedures in designing and experimenting a space for debate between scientists and business representatives.

In a social context where the relationships between research, innovation, markets, companies, the state and public spaces, and more generally the relationship between science and society are at the heart of many discussions it seems necessary to open a space for dialogue. Thanks to our differences (sectoral or disciplinary), our objectives are to reflect on both the terms of reconciliation science and business, but also on the envisaged results and their impact in terms of construction of knowledge and innovations.

Today, a few weeks before the end of the project, it is time to take stock, sharing and openness. These three days will allow us to realize a progress, to share experiences and together build the future of innovation.

                                                                                            Frédérique Chlous

                                                                                            Professor of ethnology, MNHN

                                                                                            President of the scientific committee