The first part of the OST 2006 Report focuses on research and technology in France nationwide. It provides an overview of the 34 billion euros spent on research and development by public and private efforts in 2003, by looking at who spent, how much, on what and for what purpose.

The second part of the Report provides a comparison of trends in R&D activity among the regions of France including the disparities – 70% of R&D expenditure in France occurs in 5 out of the 22 administrative regions – and differences in research orientation.

The third part is dedicated to research and technology across Europe. It portrays changes at the European Union level, and places the national R&D systems of the 25 member States in relation to one another, with a particular attention paid to comparing France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The fourth part is devoted to research as a regional activity in Europe. The 25 most active European R&D regions are identified and compared, including several French regions.

In its last part the 2006 Report furnishes a broad-brush picture of world research and technological development, against which the movement by emerging scientific nations like China or South Korea can be observed.