• The challenges
• The concept
• The founding fathers
• Organization
• The 10 commandments of CI

• The role of the State
• Objectives
• The public system
• The HRIE
• Territorial CI

• Support for strategic companies
• Monitoring and Alert
• Training and research
• CI outside France
• Protection of intangible assets
• Partners

The challenges |

Moreover, this market is characterized by the omnipresence of information, constituting a strategic raw material at all levels. The challenge lies first in obtaining information using dedicated tools so as to correlate it with other information and to exploit it in a timely manner and, second, in protecting the strategic data held by an organization.

Competitive intelligence (CI), defined as "the control and protection of strategic information relevant to all competitive actors", is first and foremost an indispensable analysis framework for understanding these challenges. Its aim is the competitiveness of the economy and the security of the State and businesses.

It is a multidisciplinary process : analyzing information entails combining technical, competitive, commercial and financial skills. The protection of sensitive data or sites calls on the skills of many specialties. That is why it is necessary to set up a special organization, notably within companies, as well as to use all useful resources, notably those that the administration makes available to all.

The market knows no borders. Likewise, competitive intelligence requires great openness of mind. Knowing what is being done abroad makes it possible to avoid errors. Cooperating with European partners is also a normal attitude for a French company.

Useful information is essentially “open” : 90% of strategic data are accessible on the Internet, in the press or specialized publications, and can also be gathered within a legal, ethical and deontological framework (conferences, trade shows, events, etc.).

Competitive intelligence is a public policy desired by the State, which decides to put resources at the service of the entire economy and to take the necessary measures for preserving the long-term interests of the Nation, notably in the fields of defense and security.

The success of a competitive intelligence system, however, requires support from all competitive actors. It is an attitude of cooperation and exchange between the public and private sectors and a commitment by all.