From the PIA to the France 2030 Program: What Opportunities Are There?

Are you among the challengers in the race for technological innovation aimed at creating a more environmentally responsible world? Take your place at the starting line of the France 2030 initiative!

Building on the Investment for the Future Program (PIA), the France 2030 plan opens up new opportunities to support innovation, with a view to fostering a green transition that promotes a better quality of life for all.

PIA - France 2030: A Sprint Toward Disruptive Innovation

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"[Investment for the Future Program and France 2030 Plan] an exceptional public investment effort in areas that represent a strategic challenge in the medium or long term, with a view to transforming the economy and transitioning to a new development model.^1"

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Launched in 2010, the “Investment for the Future” program marked the beginning of an ambitious and effective policy to support innovation. Building on this, the France 2030 initiative, launched in 2021, involves a significant investment in “disruptive innovation,” totaling 54 billion euros over five years.

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^{*AE: commitment authorizations}

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_{Disruptive innovation}

_{Also known as disruptive innovation, this term refers to an innovation—often technological—that replaces a previously dominant technology. It represents the emergence of new products or novel services.}

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In line with the Future Investment Program No. 4 (PIA4), the France 2030 plan consists of two parts:

• targeted innovation, which focuses on sectors, markets, and technologies deemed to be priorities and strategic for the economic sovereignty of France and the ecological transition;
• structural innovation, which aims to ensure the long-term funding of the higher education and research ecosystem (Action⁰¹²) and to support innovative companies (Action 02). 

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Innovation guided by 10 strategic objectives announced by the President of the Republic on October 12, 2021

1. Promote the development of a French offering of small modular reactors by 2035;

2. Become a leader in green hydrogen and renewable energy by 2030;

3. Decarbonizing our industry;

4. Produce nearly 2 million electric and hybrid vehicles annually in France by 2030;

5. To manufacture the first low-carbon aircraft in France by 2030;

6. Invest in healthy, sustainable, and traceable food;

7. Produce at least 20 biopharmaceuticals in France, particularly for the treatment of cancer and chronic diseases, and develop the medical devices of the future;

8. Position France as a leader in the production of cultural and creative content and immersive technologies;

9. Play our full part in the space adventure;

10. Invest in deep-sea exploration.

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Innovation to support the green transition and improve quality of life

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"Produce better, live better, and understand our^world better4" France 2030.

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France 2030’s commitmentto investing in innovative technologies is driven by a key goal: improving production to enhance quality of life by 2030. Innovation must be responsible and environmentally friendly —or it won’t happen at all!

• 50% of innovation investments will be allocated to fostering high-potential companies, including unicorns, startups, and challengers in the new technological revolutions.
• 50% will be allocated to initiatives aimed at decarbonizing industry and deploying new responsible and sustainable solutions.

France 2030 is a commitment to innovations thatcan accelerate the ecological transition,improve our quality of life, anddeepen our understanding of the world. It is not only about decarbonizing our production methods, but also about creating the conditions for healthy and sustainable food, optimal health for all, and a creative and immersive culture.

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Who is eligible for the France 2030 plan?

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France 2030 is aimed at startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mid-sized companies, large industrial groups, higher education institutions, research organizations, and laboratories.

How can I apply for the France 2030 targeted innovation grants?

Do your innovation projects align with the strategic goals set by the government? Then check out the targeted component of the France 2030 innovation grants!

Believing in your potential and responding to one of the many calls for proposals regularly published on the government’s “France 2030” website is the key to securing support for innovation.

To help you keep track of calls for proposals and find the one that’s the perfect fit for your project, you can filter opportunities by major themes (digital technologies, electronics and robotics, healthcare, sustainable cities, etc.) and by type of beneficiary (SMEs, startups, large companies, etc.).

How to obtain support for structural innovation under the France 2030 plan

Do your innovation projects fall outside the scope of the major strategic priorities set by the government? Then check out the structural innovation component of the France 2030 plan!

There are numerous “bottom-up innovation grants” available, offering financial support for original and diverse forward-looking projects. Here are the platforms that list the various innovation grants for which you may be eligible.

Bpifrance's Innovation Grants

Bpifrance, the French public investment bank, provides innovation support to startups and SMEs, with the aim of funding feasibility studies, industrial research, and experimental development. This financial assistance takes the form of a repayable advance or an R&D Innovation Loan, of up to 3 million euros.

Eligible projects: “Any research, development, and innovation (RDI) project—whether collaborative or not—aimed at developing innovative products, processes, or services and offering concrete prospects for industrialization and commercialization.”

Grants for research and development projects that build competitiveness (PSPC)

These grants support the implementation of a collaborative strategic innovation project involving at least two companies and a public research institution or a public training organization. They consist of partial project funding in the form of a combination of grants andrepayable advances. 

To be eligible, the project must “have a significant economic impact and projected benefits for the country in terms of added value, jobs, investment, and the development of an industry sector.”

Bpifrance's calls for proposals and innovation competitions

Bpifrance regularly publishes numerous calls for proposals, as well as announcements of innovation competitions, such as the i-PhD Innovation Competition, which aims to double the number of Deeptech in France. 

Regional aid, or the "territorialized" component, of the France 2030 plan

The regional innovation grants under the France 2030 plan are jointly managed by Bpifrance and the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations. Each region can choose its own innovation priorities, focusing on four key areas: sector-specific projects, innovation projects, collaborative R&D projects, and vocational training projects. 

These region-specific grants are the subject ofregional innovation competitions andcalls for proposals, which are centralized on the Banque des Territoires website.

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In summary, building on the PIA, the “Investing in France 2030” plan offers exceptional opportunities to support innovation—opportunities that all champions of socially responsible innovation must seize. Take the plunge and apply to the many calls for proposals and competitions! We believe in your power to make the world a better place through innovation.

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^{1 Report of the Commission on the National Loan, November 19, 2009, p. 23.}

^{2 Action 01, “Funding for the ESRI Ecosystem and Value Creation,” aims to ensure sustainable funding for higher education, research, and innovation institutions.}

^{3 https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/16/rapports/cion-eco/l16b0285-tx_rapport-avis#_ftnref8}

^{4 https://www.economie.gouv.fr/files/files/2021/France-2030.pdf?v=1675084387}

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^Sources:

^{-  Thierry MEIGNEN, “2022 Finance Bill: Investing in France for 2030,” senat.fr, November 18, 2021.}

^{- “France 2030,” French government website.}

^{- Alexis IZARD, “Investing in France for 2030,” assemblee-nationale.fr, 2022.}