French Tech

French Tech is an accreditation awarded to French cities recognized for their startup ecosystem. It is also a name used by technologically innovative French businesses throughout the world.

The French Tech aims to provide a strong common visual identity to French startups as well as to promote entrepreneurial exchanges between them.

Historic

Nine French cities received French Tech accreditation in November 2014 during a first wave of certification.^[1]

Cities like Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Nice, Avignon, Angers, Brest and Saint-Étienne preferred to wait to register their candidacies later in 2015.^[2]

In January 2015, the French Minister for Digital Affairs Axelle Lemaire announced a budget of €15 million to enhance the attractiveness of the French Tech abroad.^[3][4]

The Banque Publique d'Investissement (Bpifrance) also announced it was investing €200 million in subsidies from 2015.^[3] In 2012 alone, Bpifrance invested €700 million.^[5]

Axelle Lemaire also announced the establishment of 'French Tech Hubs' in major international cities like Montreal, New York City, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Tel Aviv, São Paulo, Phnom Pen, Cape Town, Abidjan, Moscow and Santiago.^[6] Some of which (New York City, Boston, San Francisco, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, London) have already opened since February 2014.^[7][8]

In 2016, the movement continued to expand its international reach, notably in international shows and forums. In the United States of America, French startups were part of the largest foreign delegation at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. 190 French Tech startups were enrolled this year, with a total of 210 French businesses on site.^[9] They were the largest European delegation at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show.^[10]

Accredited cities

Le Mabilay, HQ of the French Tech Rennes Saint-Malo

In November 2014, nine cities were accredited:^[11]

• Aix-Marseille
• Bordeaux
• Grenoble
• Lille
• Lyon
• Montpellier
• Nantes
• Rennes
• Toulouse

In June 2015, four new specialised areas were accredited:

• Brest, with its partners Lannion, Quimper and Morlaix
• Normandy (region), with its cities Rouen, Caen and Le Havre
• Nice, with its partners Sophia Antipolis, Grasse and Cannes
• Lorraine (region), with its cities Metz, Nancy, Épinal and Thionville

To this list are added four thematic cities:

• Saint-Étienne for design ("Design Tech")
• Angers^[12] for industry ("Industry Tech")
• Avignon for culture ("Culture Tech")
• Alsace for sciences ("Med Tech" and "Bio Tech")

French Tech and retail

On October 21, 2015, eight major retailers signed a charter to highlight French Tech products on their shelves, at the French Ministry of Economy with Axelle Lemaire, Minister for Digital Affairs.^[13]

Among those who signed the charter are major players in the retail sector, including Auchan, Boulanger, Carrefour, Darty, Fnac, E.Leclerc, Lick and Orange S.A..

"This charter officially marks our commitment to support French technological innovation in the field of the Internet of things, on the long term" said Daniel Broche, e-commerce director at Boulanger. The charter was signed during the national 'week of connected devices' which runs yearly until the 25th October and during which certain activities are planned in stores around France and on the internet with the hashtag #HappyFrenchTech.

Within the following weeks, only Boulanger had issued a clear statement on its application of the agreement. The brand has created a dedicated online marketplace and agrees to sell a number of products in stores, such as a virtual reality helmet, an 'intelligent' keyring or a connected lamp.

External links

French Tech cities and hubs (in English):

• FrenchTech website
• FrenchTech Lyon
• FrenchTech Aix-Marseille
• FrenchTech Côte d'Azur
• FrenchTech Rennes-St Malo
• FrenchTech Grenoble
• FrenchTech Nantes
• FrenchTech Tokyo
• FrenchTech New York City
• FrenchTech San Francisco
• FrenchTech Ticket - Paris

References