QWhatever the fields of knowledge, research is essential to push back the limits of knowledge. And it goes without saying that our societies need more than ever to provide answers to the considerable questions posed by democracy, health, socio-ecological transition, responsible innovation… And yet, despite their essential role for society and especially for its future, public research and scientists have been particularly mistreated by the State, and this for more than twenty years.
France had made a commitment at the European level to devote, from 2010, at least 1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to public research. However, not only have successive governments not honored this commitment, but, even worse, they have imposed a whole series of reforms in the wrong direction which will have particularly deteriorated the working conditions of scientists.
The last of them, the research programming law of December 24, 2020, promised – once again – the respect of this commitment: taking note of the stalling of research, the famous “1% of GDP” for research public was finally “programmed”! However, upon examination of the research programming bill, the National Union of Scientific Researchers (SNCS-FSU) and other organizations had shown that this multi-year programming of the research budget was insincere. Sadly, the proof is there.
Underinvestment
In addition to the handicap represented for public research by the degradation of the means of work of scientists – these are women and men researchers, teacher-researchers, engineers and technicians in research or in support of research, whether they are civil servants or contractual – we would like to note here an aspect that is rarely mentioned: namely the fact that the chronic underinvestment in public research also results in salaries and careers that are unworthy of the responsibilities, training and diplomas of these scientists.
This is particularly obvious for those recruited after a doctorate. For example, to “catch up” with the remuneration of agents in comparable categories of the state civil service or meet the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average, the salaries of scientists with a doctorate or equivalent should be increased by 60% ! Should we add – since it is topical – that the latter are recruited at an average age of between 34 and 36, often after years of research abroad which are still not taken into account in the calculation of their future retirement pension?
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