The various reforms introduced in France since the end of the 1990s are transforming the field of institutional research, which has historically been hierarchical and centralised, by giving more leeway to the different levels of territorial administration. In this new context, who is involved in orienting and planning research? The wide diversity of actors is problematic: the current evident lack of co-ordination between institutions and levels of territorial administration is blurring the direction and planning of research. Moreover, the role of territorial communities in defining policies relating to innovation and competition is continuing to grow. The impact of the recent reforms is analysed specifically in terms of the direction, planning and co-ordination of research.