French Tech Emergence Grant (Bourse French Tech Emergence)
Supports French deep-tech early ventures with internal and external spending to reach project emergence.
Bourse French Tech Emergence is an entry-level deeptech grant from Bpifrance, funded by the French state through the Programme d'Investissement d'Avenir (PIA4) or the Fonds pour l'Innovation et l'Industrie (FII). It partially finances both internal expenses (salary contributions, direct project costs) and external expenses (technical studies, IP filings, market validation studies) related to a deeptech project in its emergence phase. The grant carries a maximum award of €90,000, disbursed in two tranches. There are no application or instruction fees, and the programme operates on a rolling intake with no fixed closing date.
Eligibility targets the earliest-stage actors in the deeptech ecosystem: small companies registered in France for less than one year and individual entrepreneurs working toward incorporation of a deeptech project. The project must be qualified as deeptech according to Bpifrance's current Deeptech référentiel, which evaluates technological depth and originality. The grant can cover up to 50% of eligible expenses, or up to 70% depending on company category. Project duration is up to 12 months, extendable to 18 months under specific conditions. TRL range at entry is typically 2 to 4. The programme is subject to the EU state-aid framework for research, development, and innovation (RDI exemption regime).
Bourse French Tech Emergence sits at the base of Bpifrance's Deeptech Plan ladder. It is frequently deployed in coordination with the PUI (Pôle Universitaire d'Innovation) regional university-industry consortia, meaning applicants can connect with their local PUI lead university to access both the grant and surrounding support. Graduates of this instrument often progress to larger Bpifrance deeptech instruments, including the Aide au Développement Deeptech (ADD), which supports projects up to €2,000,000. For researchers or pre-incorporation founders with a high-tech concept at the idea-to-prototype stage, this grant provides the first non-dilutive capital to validate the technical and commercial hypothesis.
Deeptech projects in their earliest emergence phase — typically pre-incorporation or freshly-formed companies. Funds market validation, prototype development, IP work, and other early-stage activities.
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