Abstract EN:

Technological progress and its corollaries, technical improvement and scientific progress, constitute an analytical trilogy, which determine some empirical economic stakes as some theoretical and conceptual challenges. After having developed a critical reading of the "usual" theoretical discussion, we open this debate to neo-darwinist concepts. The procedure, not totally fruitless, comes up against its own bounds. Therefore, we choose then to argue about constitution of a "macroeconomic analysis of knowledge production". We define macroeconomic efficiency of the "cognitive production" (the production of a new knowledge whose assimilation is cognition), by an equilibrium between two antagonist dynamics : "diffusion" and "germination". Subsequently, we build another model about strategic "over-germination" of national scientific and technological policies under pressure of international technological rivalries. We also propose some theoretical reflexions about astonishing forms of R&D strategies, and about the cognitive economic nature of different kinds of products (by using a conceptual distinction between the "artisan craft", the "artist production" and the "industrial product"). We are coming up to problems concerning the value theory. Then, we overcome the theoretical discussion to face some empirical technological challenges. Internationally, we first compare R&D dynamics, before studying three "micro-technological challenges" (innovation on metals, work of metals and polymers), and, finally, two microeconomic subjects (a case of joint r&d between independant firms, a description of the small technological French firm).