We are very committed to the concept of Net neutrality

Return of the IFA Berlin show and before going in Jordan and the United Kingdom to discuss new partnerships, Eric Schmidt was these last two days in Paris, where he met Nicolas Sarkozy. Yesterday, he gave a lecture at Sciences po, where he outlined his new investment for the France plan. Google's CEO announced the opening in Paris of a centre of R & D in the coming weeks and a cultural Institute in 2011. This will be the sixth engineering in Europe, but its size should be much more modest than those of Zurich and Dublin. "A few dozen engineers will be hired in the early years," explained Eric Schmidt. The Cultural Institute, he shall, the first of its kind in Europe and will cover the cultural activities of Google on the continent. It will be the subject of "several million euros of investment" and will be used to speed up digitization of information, books or magazines. A project for which the search engine is open to all types of partnerships, with right holders or the National Library of France (BNF), with which Google is already working.

Eric Schmidt defends however any lobbying, at the time when Google is the subject of severe criticism in Europe on its management personal and data investigation for dominance in Europe. "It is not a gift or Exchange: French President certainly gave us its full support, but it is primarily any strategic for us." "The French market is one of the most dynamic in the world and we hope many take advantage of these investments," said Eric Schmidt, adding that he had discussed a possible steps "Google tax" with Nicolas Sarkozy.

Operation seduction

"Fan of French culture", and seemed no doubt aware of the legal threats on its positions in Europe, the CEO of Google to launch a major operation seduction. To publishers press, first of all, since he has entrusted one of its first wishes was to "assist newspapers to find viable models on the Internet", confirming its project of kiosk to pay access for publishers who would like. To television channels, then. After the Conference, Eric Schmidt has confirmed that negotiations with the strings were difficult on Google TV, to be launched in the fall of the United States and current 2011 in Europe. Some have already said yes to enable Google TV to access their video content, others are very reserved. "They are afraid of a cannibalization of their activities, but I am confident that together we can better showcase their content and increase their incomes," he said.

On the strategy of the group, Eric Schmidt has confirmed that the next site was technology and that new tools could be launched to improve the "predictive search", as Google now, which took millions of dollars of investment. Finally, Eric Schmidt said his thinking to the debate on Net neutrality, refuting the idea that Google would have changed position. "The agreement with Verizon is not financial, there is no transaction between us and any partnership of this type is identified with European operators." We are very committed to the concept of Net neutrality.