The French government yesterday identified six industrial clusters it believes will help to reinvigorate its economy and pitch the country to the forefront of innovation in new technologies.

However, in an attempt to forestall regional political opposition to the selection of just six globally competitive clusters, Dominique de Villepin, the prime minister, also identified 61 further "poles of competitiveness" across the country. He also doubled the incentives available to these "poles" from €750m to €1.5bn ($1.8bn, £1bn).