I wonder if this is because in the old days, for those of us 35 years and above, typically the 1st language serious people would take is German, and then maybe English but also quite possibly Latin. So maybe generational.

The sad thing is, one of the first things Sarkozy did, which many researchers I know here who are left of various stripes still seem to say good things about viz their professions, was getting through a law reforming the university system. Even left professors and espeically researchers like the new law as now restrictions on funding sources are lifted, and fundraising, american-style, from private sources, in order to fund research and other university undertakings, is now permitted (and actually pretty much encouraged given other parts of that reform bill). This should over time make it possible to put more meritocracy in who gets research moneys and also salary and funding for equipment, travel and so forth, and these are of course good things.

But I can't help but note that now they get to put the hat out to the private sector for research in basic science, and give credit to a neo-liberal government doing a neo-liberal reform which only was needed because the conservatives in france have underfunded research for decades. Typical bait and switch, and evidence that even the biggest minds still are somewhat clueless at certain levels.

I'd also point out that grant-writing as well as management and administration of the sorts of institutes now being created are quite time consuming and not typically part of the average researcher's skill set. We shall see how things go.

Fai de bèn a Bertrand, te lou rendra en cagant