Plan Calcul: France's National Information Technology Ambition and Instrument of National Independence

The history of Plan Calcul―France's first information technology program, launched by de Gaulle's government in 1966―has been well described the literature; however, few studies investigate arsenal system program depth. Drawing from Calcul's archives, this article is to demonstrate that, context Cold War foreign policy, French government, initially aiming avoid an system, still became program's funding supplier, entrepreneur, and client. Calcul aimed establish industrial-type operation but was ultimately reduced a state program.