First Factory: Everything You Need to Know About the Call for Proposals

Launched in 2022, the "Première Usine" initiative aims to stimulate industrial innovation in France. Find out everything you need to know about this call for projects.

Overview of the "First Factory" Program

Purpose and Objectives of the Call for Proposals

The "Première Usine" program is an initiative that is part of the France 2030 investment plan.

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This program was designed to help innovative companies set up their first industrial production facilities, with the aim of fostering successful industrialization efforts by these companies by enabling them to launch their innovative production plants in the region.

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It reflects a twofold goal: to bring about lasting transformation in key sectors of our economy through technological innovation and to position France as a global leader in the future.

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The program's role in France's energy transition

The "Première Usine" program plays a key role in France's energy transition. By fostering the emergence of new, innovative production facilities, it supports the decarbonization of industry and the reduction of the human footprint. These factories often focus on clean technologies, such as those in the fields of renewable energy, electric mobility, and the circular economy.

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The goal is to help France achieve its carbon neutrality targets by 2050. In addition to receiving financial support, the program’s winners receive assistance in implementing their environmentally friendly production projects.

BPIFrance, a financing agency and coordinator

Bpifrance plays a central role in implementing the program. As a public investment bank, it is responsible for managing and administering the call for projects on behalf of the French government. Its mission is to support the selected companies in their efforts to establish operations and scale up production.

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Bpifrance also provides funding for the winning projects. With a budget of €550 million over five years, it provides financial support for the establishment of pilot sites and industrial production facilities, with the goal of bringing innovative products to market. The pooling of pre-industrial capabilities for the benefit of startups is also encouraged.

The sectors covered by the Call for Proposals

The "Première Usine" Call for Projects (CFP) targets several sectors, demonstrating its ambition to stimulate industrial innovation across a range of fields.

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These sectors are diverse, ranging from biotechnology to healthcare, includingagri-food, batteries, materials, and robotics. Other sectors such asaerospace, mobility,energy,automotive, andaviation are also targeted. In addition, we can highlight sectors such asagriculture, maritime, healthcare/chemicals/pharmaceuticals, construction, logistics, digital technology, and subcontracting. These sectors are identified as key and central to the government’s reindustrialization and development strategy, which explains the mobilization of these substantial funds with the aim of creating jobs, fostering growth, boosting regional dynamism, and enhancing national competitiveness.

Eligibility criteria for startups and SMEs

To be eligible for the "Première Usine" call for projects, startups, SMEs, and innovative mid-sized companies must meet several criteria.

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First, the project must have an industrial focus. This means that the initiative must involve the establishment of pilot sites and/or industrial production facilities.

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Second, these sites must be designed to market innovative products. The project must therefore be at the cutting edge of technology and bring something new to the market; first-plant projects generally involve an initial phase of finalizing R&D work (minor) and a second phase of establishing the production line.

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In addition, the company must be registered in France with the Trade and Companies Register (RCS) as of the date the application is filed.

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Third and finally, only investments made in France that were not committed prior to the submission of the complete grant application are eligible.

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_{Eligible projects must have a total budget of more than €5 million. Funding will be provided in the form of grants (60%) and repayable advances (40%).}

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The specific and detailed criteria are available in the call for proposals specifications.

The detailed application process

The application process for the "Première Usine" call for projects consists of two steps.

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Step 1: Submission of the streamlined application package. During this phase, the project leader must provide only the documents essential for evaluating the application, along with a project description in the form of a slide deck.

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Step 2: Submission of the complete application. The additional documents listed in the specifications are required to allow for a thorough review of the project.

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Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the extranet for collaborative innovation projects (Pixcel platform).

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_{Applying for this call for proposals is a complex process and may require the assistance of experts in project development. If you would like to benefit from their expertise, please contact us.}

The schedule: key dates to remember

Here are the key dates to keep in mind for the "Première Usine" call for projects:

• Call for proposals opens in 2022. It remains open until December 15, 2026.
• Interim roll calls: These roll calls are held three times a year, in January, April, and September. For example, in 2024, the roll calls took place on January 16, April 16, and September 11 at 12:00 p.m. (noon, Paris time).
• The announced rollover dates for 2025 are January 14, April 15, and September 9.
• The rotation dates for 2026 will be set at a later time.
• Application deadline: December 15, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.

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These key dates will help you plan when to submit your application and prepare it as thoroughly as possible. Please note that once the funds have been exhausted, the program will close, even if subsequent rounds were originally planned.

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Program Recipients and Impacts

Since its launch, the "Première Usine" program has had a significant impact on French industry and has been a real driving force behind the ecological transition.

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It has provided financial support for numerous innovative industrial projects. In total, €293 million was allocated to 66 projects, resulting in a total productive investment of €885 million.

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The program’s winners were able to develop and set up their first production facilities in France. These projects span a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, agri-food, aerospace, and mobility.

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The program's impact can also be measured in terms of job creation and the revitalization of the local economy. Indeed, the establishment of these new factories helps make these regions more attractive and contributes to the country's reindustrialization.

Future developments in the program over time

In the coming years, the "Première Usine" program is expected to continue evolving to address industrial and environmental challenges.

• Adapting to new technologies: With the advent ofthe Factory of the Future, the program could incorporate more projects related to Industry 4.0, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.
• Increased support for the energy transition: The program could strengthen its commitment to decarbonizing industry by supporting projects focused on renewable energy or the circular economy.
• Increased funding: Depending on the results achieved and the needs identified, the amounts allocated may be increased.

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Première Usine is therefore a key component of the government’s strategy for the reindustrialization and decarbonization of regions—fundamental aspects for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal.

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Although the concrete benefits of the program are not expected to be fully realized until 2030, the initial results are more than encouraging and underscore the need to share the risks that companies take during the industrialization phase.