In few count ries is research activity administered and supported in such broad measure by the state as it is in France by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C. N. R. S. ). The lecture provides a comprehensive survey of the development and of the problems which have confronted French research promotion in recent years in the fields of natural science and technology. The chief problem is the necessary compromise between control and liberty of action in modern research structure. Points dealt with are: research at universities, applied research, the proportion of national income...