In the spring of 2004 the French National Research Centre (CNRS), the Université de Strasbourg and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft agreed to establish a Laboratoire Européen Associé (LEA). LEA is funded by the Bureau d'économie théorique et appliquée (BETA) in Strasbourg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI in Karlsruhe. Since summer 2006 the Max Planck Institute for Economics in Jena is also a partner of LEA.

The main objectives of LEA are to conduct joint research projects in the field "Knowledge, Science and Innovation". Three fundamental research lines are currently being investigated: 

• theoretical and methodological aspects of knowledge economics
• empirical studies of technology diffusion and knowledge generation
• regional innovation systems

In addition to the project work, which also includes for example joint projects within the framework of European networks of excellence, scientific exchange is of particular significance. Besides annual workshops to present latest research results, seminars for doctoral candidates or also the temporary exchange of scientific personnel between the participating institutes are planned.