France to build a European Institute of Technology in Paris 

After France successfully negotiated the creation of the international experimental fusion reactor (ITER) in Cadarache - it has now announced its advanced plans for the creation of a European Institute of Technology (EIT) in Paris. The aim is to stop the 'brain drain' of the best scientists and to turn the French capital into a 'European technology research hub'. 

The idea originates from Philippe Pouletty, the founder of an independent French think-tank, Strategic Innovation Council, which brings together a number of French private and public scientific innovation actors, investors, former ministers and directors of research organisations. The think tank announced its ambitions for the creation of an EIT in Paris in June 2005 and, shortly after, the idea was taken forward by the French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.

In July 2005, the think tank presented its report on the choice of the future site to Villepin. The choice is a campus in Saclay, a suburb of Paris. The institute, expected to be operational in five to seven years would house around 300 scientists, half of which Europeans, half from all around the world.

France seems to have decided to bring its plan forward irrespective of any EU decision (current EU-consultation on EIT) on the subject.

A group of MEPs proposes creating a European Institute of Technology in the Strasbourg premises of the EP, and thus ending the monthly 'travelling circus' of MEPs between Strasbourg and Brussels. Creating the EIT in the Parliament's Strasbourg premises would save almost 200 million euro per year. 

The MEP Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, founder and chair of an EP intergroup COMETIS (Committee for a European Technology Institute in Strasbourg): "COMETIS begs the French government not to disregard the committee's proposal to establish the EIT in Strasbourg." According to his press release, the French authorities have been insensitive to these demands as they are reluctant to give up on Strasbourg as the official seat of the European Parliament.  

The European research advisory board (EURAB) has warned the Commission against the European Massachusetts Institute of Technology-like ambitions, saying that such a "world-class research institute cannot be created top down" and can only grow over time out of existing research communities and with close relations with the most advanced industries. 

Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik supports the idea of building a network of existing universities rather than creating a new institution.