The Foundation for Political Innovation (; Fondapol) is a French think tank created in 2004. Under the leadership of Dominique Reynié since 2008, it is part of a "liberal, progressive and European" perspective. The think tank considers itself independent and aims to promote political innovation regarding social, educational and European issues. Recognised as a public interest organisation, the Foundation presents itself as an independent space dedicated to expertise, reflection, and exchange, aiming to contribute to the pluralism of thought and the renewal of public debate.
History
Creation of the foundation
The Foundation was created in 2004 on the initiative of Jérôme Monod, adviser to Jacques Chirac (former President of the French republic), with the support of the UMP (right-wing party). It was recognized of public interest by a public decree of the Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin at the time, on April 15 of the same year.
Between 2004 and 2008, the executive director of the Foundation was by Franck Debié.
Appointment of Dominique Reynié as executive director
Since October 2008, the Foundation has been headed by Dominique Reynié, professor at Sciences Po, who affirms the "liberal, progressive and European" positioning of the Foundation. In 2009, Nicolas Bazire became Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Foundation, a position he still holds today.
In 2010, the Foundation initiated the first Think Tank Forum, an event hosted at the Sorbonne, bringing together the main French think tanks around discussions on major societal issues. Two more editions will follow in 2011 and 2013.
In November 2013, the Foundation organized an event lasting twenty-four hours at the Maison de la Mutualité, around the theme "We are the Progress!". Over 170 speakers took turns speaking for 10 minutes, in the form of testimonials and proposals on major social issues.
Research work and studies
The Foundation for Political Innovation organizes its research work around four main topics : economics growth, ecology, values and digital. Its work addresses, through these four genera topics, all major political, economic and social issues. It contributes to the public debate with studies, surveys, and by organising events (conferences, seminars).
Economics
In 2011, the Foundation proposes "12 ideas for 2012". Made for the presidential election, these recommendation are intended, according to the executive director of the Foundation, to "redefine a social project".
Concerning the economy, the Foundation advocates, in particular, the introduction a “golden rule” regarding the French fiscal policy, a reduction in taxation, a revival of privatizations, a reduction in health expenditure and the pursuit of the rule of non-replacement of one in two officials. According to the Foundation, and in line with its liberal stance, " the State is not meant to reduce inequalities" and should "give up some areas of competence" to the benefit of the private sector.
In 2015, the scientist Idriss Aberkane publishes for the Foundation a note on the economy of knowledge.
In 2016, jurists Sophie Vermeille, Mathieu Kohmann and Mathieu Luinaud publish a note under the title "A right for innovation and growth", in which they denounce a French law deemed "anachronistic", which condemns innovation and inefficient from an economic point of view.
The same year, the foundation publishes a note on public broadcasting restructuring, criticized by Mathieu Gallet, Radio France's managing director. In this note, Fondapol recommends that the public audiovisual sector should be reorganized around a lighter structure centered on the production and diffusion of cultural contents, differentiating it from private channels.
In April 2017, the Foundation offered to review the public debt's evaluation criteria and its implications, in comparison with the structure imposed by the Treaty of Maastricht. This text aims at changing the perception of the economic reality of a given country and at assessing its priorities in terms of public expenditures.
Society
The Foundation has published several notes and surveys on the middle classes and youth.
In 2011, the Foundation for Political Innovation publishes a major international survey on youth, revealing that barely 47% of French aged between 16 and 29 are satisfied with the time in which they live.