True, but even without Credit Impot Recherche, the salary of a French engineer is so much lower than in Silicon Valley, it's mind boggling. Labor is cheap in France.

Now, if only the locals would get the culture of optimism that pervades Silicon Valley, they'd be going somewhere. There was a story on HN just the other day from a high-frequency trader moving to Silicon Valley. Lesson #1: everyone collaborates and is helpful. Not making fun of you and telling you that you are going to fail.