194 



National Resources Planning Board 



of National Defence established a Bureau of Scientific 

 Research to serve as a liaison organization between the 

 National Defence Department and the research estab- 

 Hshments of universities and industries. Thus much 

 of the work in research in Belgium in recent years has 

 been undertaken, or at least greatly influenced by the 

 Government. Let us now briefly consider the work of 

 other agencies — foundations, universities, and indus- 

 trial organizations. 



La Fondation Universitaire was founded in 1920 for 

 the advancement of science, but more specifically for 

 aiding Belgian students of insufficient means to enter 

 institutions of higher learning, and to the development 

 of scientific methods in industry, giving support to 

 scholars, researchers, and students of demonstrated 

 ability. 



The Fondation Francqui was established in 1932, for 

 development of advanced education in Belgium, com- 

 plementing in this respect the Fondation Universitaire 

 and the National Foundation for Scientific Research. 

 One of the aims of the Belgian-American Educational 

 Foundation, Inc., was to assist scientific research. 



Since it was primarily an industrial country, it has 

 been necessary for Belgium to be progressive in order 

 to compete successfully with other nations. Compared 

 with several European countries, it has been more 

 favorably situated with respect to foreign exchange and 

 therefore has been able to import substantial quantities 

 of raw material for conversion into finished products. 



Research by Belgian industry was similar to that in 

 France, the industries being basic in nature with little 

 departure from them. Some work was done on ma- 

 terials of the Belgian Congo, notably copper, radium, 

 tantalum, and copal. Technology was probably more 

 advanced than in France. Secrecy concerning new 

 developments was the usual practice but perhaps less 

 extreme than in France. AppUed research in general 

 was not well advanced. 



Union Chimique Beige, Socidt6 Anonyme, largest 

 chemical company in Belgium, engaged in considerable 

 applied research, but information on whether or not 

 it did fundamental research is lacking. Well equipped 

 research laboratories were also maintained by numerous 

 other industries and groups, including: 



Comitfi Electrotechnique Beige. 



Laboratoire de Recherches du Groupment Professionel de 



Fabricants des Ciments Beiges. 

 Soci<St6 Financier des Transports et d'Entreprises In- 



dustrielles. 

 Soci^td Beige de Germanique. 

 Soci6t6 Beige de Radiophonie. 

 Solvay et Cie. 

 Soci6t6 Beige de L'Arfite et des Produits Chimiques du 



Darly. 

 Etablissements Englebert. 



Ateliers de Contructions Electriques de Charlerei. 

 Soci£t€ Nationals des Chemins de Fer. 



Les Produits Organique de Tirlemont, S. A. 



Raffinerio Tirlemontoise. 



Soci^td Anonyme des Usines Remy. 



Usincs Duch6. 



Fabrique de Soie Artificielle de Tubize. 



Soci6t6 G6n6ral M6tallurglque de Hoboken. 



Soci6t6 Beige de I'Azote, Ougrfie. 



The principal fields of industrial research included 

 glass, metallurgy, metallic carbides, heavy chemicals, 

 glue and gelatin, copal. Research in inorganic was 

 considerably more advanced than in organic chemistry. 



Some of the industrial laboratories have cooperated 

 with universities, notably in electrotechnolog}", civil 

 engineering, and microchemistry. As previously des- 

 cribed, the National Foundation for Scientific Research 

 gave financial assistance to industries for the study 

 of scientific problems of expected benefit to the national 

 economy. 



Research in France 



France has a glorious history of the development of 

 the physical and biological sciences and has produced 

 many famous scientists. The great age of her science 

 commenced in the seventeenth century, survived the 

 Revolution and reached its height during the Napoleonic 

 era when it undoubtedly led the world. But in com- 

 parison with other nations this progress has not been 

 maintained, owing perhaps to the narrow outlook and 

 lack of support by the various governments. 



The First World War and the subsequent depression 

 dealt severe blows to science, and in fact exerted the 

 opposite effect of that in Germany and, to a less extent 

 in Italy. The examples of these nations, however, 

 served to awaken scientists, industrialists, and states- 

 men to the importance of science and research in the 

 economic recovery of the country. New institutes were 

 founded, the needs of French industry, and the reqiiire- 

 ments of national defense were recognized, all of which 

 required much larger financial aid on the part of the 

 government, industry, and individuals than had 

 previously been given. 



The development of science and scientific research in 

 France has always been uneven and spasmodic. Prog- 

 ress has mainly been due to the self-sacrifice and the 

 detachment from industrial considerations of the 

 investigators themselves. This detachment, coupled 

 with the temperament of the French people, has resulted 

 in the country faUing behind in the application of 

 scientific discoveries to industry. It has been said that 

 a French scientist forgets an investigation on its com- 

 pletion in his interest to commence the next. 



Government 



Although the scheme for reorganization of science in 

 France had not been completed when the present war 



