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 devoted te research expenditure, possibilities of an analysis of the socalled "scientific conjuncture", the total function of research and its consequences, the structure and expansion of modern research apparatus, political prin- ciples to be applied to national activities, problems of international coopera- tion. Resume 11 existent peu de pays dans lesquels une partie si importante des travaux de recherche est administree et subventionnee par l'etat comme cela se fait en France par le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C. N. R. S. ). L'exposition decrit en detaille developpement et les problemes qui se sont produits dans les dernieres annees de la stimulation de la recherche frans: aise dans le secteur des sciences naturelles et de la technique. Le probleme central y est le compromis necessaire entre le dirigisme et la liberte dans la structure moderne de la recherche.