First the French recreated Disneyland on their own soil, now they plan
to reinvent Silicon Valley close to Paris. French defence minister Pierre
Joxe announced plans to bring together several training colleges and research
laboratories to create a centre for R&D, technology transfer and new
businesses, modelled on the Californian home of high-tech.
The prestigious Ecole Polytechnique is already on the site at Palaiseau
in the suburbs of Paris. It will be joined by a graduate school, the national
school of advanced techniques and military research units. Space will also
be set aside for commercial companies.
