i-Lab Innovation Competition (Concours d'innovation i-Lab)

i-Lab Innovation Competition (Concours d'innovation i-Lab)

Supports deep-tech startup creation through mentorship and innovation competition programs.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The 28th edition of the Concours d'innovation i-Lab is a competitive grant program operating under the French government's France 2030 investment plan and managed by Bpifrance. Its purpose is to detect and support the creation of innovative technology companies in France by providing financial aid and tailored accompaniment to the strongest early-stage projects. The competition is open to any individual of any nationality who has created a company less than two years ago, or who plans to create an innovative technology company on French territory, regardless of professional status — provided they satisfy the legal and regulatory requirements for company creation in France.

The grant is capped at €600,000. Eligible project costs are capped at €1,000,000 and must be directly linked to the company's R&D programme, covering personnel, operating costs, and amortizable equipment. No costs incurred before the application submission date are eligible. The selection jury evaluates projects across ten dimensions: technological innovation and established proof-of-concept, economic viability, growth potential including international reach, the candidate's motivation and capacity to lead a company and build partnerships, team quality and complementarity, intellectual property mastery, environmental impact, societal impact, and integration of sustainability criteria. Applications for the 28th edition closed on 3 February 2026 via the Picxel platform (picxel.bpifrance.fr).

The i-Lab competition does not require co-funding from the applicant. The 28th edition is closed; a 29th edition is expected in late 2026, following the program's annual cycle. Founders at the pre-incorporation or very early company stage — particularly those building on validated proof-of-concept technology — should treat i-Lab as the primary French State grant instrument for technology company creation, noting that i-PhD (for doctoral researchers with deeptech startup projects) is the recommended upstream pathway before applying.