Un tournant dans l'histoire technique de la sidérurgie : la création de l'Irsid. Compétition et collaboration entre l'Etat et l'industrie

Abstract

Abstract There were no profesionnal center of technological researches in the French steel industry before World War two. This central laboratory («l'Irsid : Institut de la recherche sidérurgique») was imagined by Jean Rist in 1943 and created by Henri Malcor in 1946. This is a business initiative. Mining enginers from National School of Mining, those specializing in high grade steel in particular, played a major part in the creation. But the action of the steel trade organisation during the war («Comité d'organisation») was also encouraged by the state rival actions : by the Center of National Scientific Research, then the National School of Mining. A law of 1943 helped to create the «Irsid» and a tax regulation of 1945 gave it regular resources. The Monnet Plan also backed up the new Institute. L'Irsid will change the attitudes toward technical secret, the conditions of innovation in the French steel industry. It will also help to increase the influence of mining engineers into the profession.