The Deeptech Plan celebrates its 4th anniversary: assessment and perspectives
In 2019, the French government launched the Deeptech Plan with the ambition of creating future economic champions carrying technological breakthrough innovations stemming from research. Operated by Bpifrance, the Deeptech Plan blew out its 4th candle in March 2023, in the presence of French ecosystem actors.
This event celebrated the growth of the French deep tech industry. Discover the 2022 assessment and perspectives of the Deeptech Plan, inspiring speeches, videos, and demonstrations from deep tech startups present.
French deep tech in full swing
In his opening speech, Nicolas Dufourcq (CEO of Bpifrance) indicated that 50% of the startups in Bpifrance's portfolio are deep tech before adding "Things are moving, thanks to you" addressing the whole ecosystem present.
For Bruno Bonnell (Secretary-General for Investment in charge of France 2030), deep tech is like a fossil caterpillar that transforms into an electric butterfly and illuminates our lives. In his speech, he called on industries to come to the academic world, and then addressed an audience of 200 people:
"It is you, the men and women of today, who are creating a new form of society and a different future through science."
Bruno Bonnell, Secretary-General for Investment in charge of France 2030.
In turn, Paul-François Fournier (Executive Director Innovation, Bpifrance) took the floor to present a quantitative assessment of the Deeptech Plan, illustrated by a video.
The annual creation of deep tech startups has doubled since the launch of the Deeptech Plan.
There is no doubt that the means deployed by the Deeptech Plan are bearing fruit, and the creation of deeptech startups continues to accelerate. In 2022, deep tech represents:
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320 new startups (+ 20% vs. 2021) (x2 vs. 2018)
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1,800 startups in activity in France
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5 unicorns (Exotec, Ledger, Shift, OVH Cloud, and Owkin)
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A financing continuum that continues to prove itself.
Startups created are supported in their development by the specific financing continuum proposed by Bpifrance for deep tech (1). In 2022, these are:
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673 million euros in financing granted to 869 deep tech startups (thanks to innovation aid, loans, calls for projects, and competitions)
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In total, 1700 deep tech startups have benefited from financing since 2019 (over 2 billion euros)
Investors' confidence is constantly increasing
The investment dynamic has also been very favorable for deep tech in 2022:
These successes were made possible thanks to solid support from the entire French ecosystem. Find the complete 2022 assessment of the Deeptech Plan in the dedicated press release (available in French here).
Deeptech promised a bright future
To facilitate the emergence of deeptech startups, new programs were launched in early 2023. Among them, the French Tech Lab Stock Exchange (BFT Lab) will finance pre-creation startup projects within University Innovation Poles (PUI) for an amount ranging from €30,000 to €120,000. One of the first projects applying for this new program is Terratis, which is developing a new way to fight against harmful insects using the sterile insect technique (TIS). Clelia Oliva, a researcher in transition and the project leader, said that the grant would allow her to "consolidate her industrial acceleration strategy."
This was followed by a round table discussion in which Sophie Brac de la Perrière (CEO of Healshape - a regenerative medicine startup that designs a 3D-printed breast prosthesis), Eva Clerc (VC Investment Director at Bpifrance), and Christine Clerici (President of Université Paris Cité) discussed the necessary construction of a virtuous model between startups, academics, and investors. "Our company was born from a happy marriage between academics and private individuals," said Sophie Brac de la Perrière.
By sharing their respective experiences, they stressed the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration between academics, investors, and entrepreneurs. According to them, such a model will further encourage the emergence of disruptive projects like Healshape and enable their development under the best possible conditions. At France Tech Transfer Invest 23 Tech Tour brought together academics, investors, and 40 French startups representing French innovation, and Les Deeptech hosted the event.
“Deep tech is everywhere in France, and it is an incredible toolbox that empowers us to achieve our ambitions.”
Sophie Brac de la Perrière (CEO of Healshape)
Deep tech is present in every region and Bpifrance supports them from the lab to the startup to the factory through its multiple regional locations. In the following video, we focus on the factories of Materrup and BeFC, which specialize in low-carbon and low-power innovations. In 2023, the goal of deep tech is to be even closer to local ecosystems thanks to the regionalization of the Deep Tech Plan. To conclude the speeches, Jean-Noël Barrot (Delegate Minister for Digital Transition and Telecommunications) spoke about the ambitions of the new phase of the Deep Tech Plan. According to him, building a national deep tech means "reconnecting with the deep nature of our country".
“Doctoral students and researchers, I encourage you to take the leap towards entrepreneurship, you are the new heroes of our country - investors, follow the example of Bpifrance and do not hesitate to question the models, we need you to turn towards deep tech.”
Jean-Noël Barrot (Delegate Minister for Digital Transition and Telecommunications)
Below you can meet the startups that presented at France Tech Transfer Invest and the 10 award-winners.
