This chapter presents the French public research system. By comparing international statistics, it analyses France’s output in science, research organisations’ primary sphere of activity: the number of articles published, recipients of international grants, etc. It goes on to examine the major public research organisations, such as the National Centre for Scientific Research, that are central to public research in France, as well as research at universities: its budgets, staff management and governance. These sectors have undergone successive reforms over the past decade. This chapter analyses them in detail, focusing in particular on the development of project funding and evaluation.