Emmanuel MACRON, Minister for the Economy, Industry and Digital Technology, and Axelle LEMAIRE, Secretary of State for Digital Technology, presented their greetings at the French Tech, Thursday 29 January 2015. In front of more than a thousand people representing all the players in French Tech, they recalled the achievements of 2014 and presented the priorities for the coming year.
"What a long way French Tech has come in a year! 2015 must be the year of deepening and acceleration. Deepening of the ecosystem, to open up French Tech to the outside world, to international markets and to large companies. And accelerating the financing mechanisms, so that we can not only create start-ups but also support them throughout their growth: I am sure that these include the nuggets of tomorrow's CAC 40! »said Emmanuel Macron.
After a first year that saw the mobilization of a national network of startup ecosystems through the labeling of nine French Tech Metropolises, French Tech will move up a gear in 2015 to structure its international dimension.
"The massive presence of French companies at the last Consumer Electronic Show, the international fundraising efforts of several of our champions, and the success of French digital products and services in markets around the world have helped to put France back at the forefront of the global innovation scene. Now we need to transform the trial! » said Axelle LEMAIRE.
An international strategy for French Tech that will be based on three pillars
- The emergence of French Tech Hubs within major international innovation regions. A "French Tech Hub" will mobilize the French entrepreneurial ecosystem within these regions in order to accelerate the development of French start-ups wishing to set up there and promote France's attractiveness to local entrepreneurs and investors. Following the example of the "French Tech Metropolises" approach, the "French Tech Hubs" will be labelled by the State on the basis of a project meeting specifications, available from 30 January 2015 on www.lafrenchtech.com.
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- The launch of the French Tech International Attractiveness Platform. This programme, which has a total budget of €15 million, is intended to support initiatives, in particular by private players, aimed at promoting and showcasing French excellence in the field of innovation. This will be done, for example, by strengthening France's presence and visibility at major international events, or by bringing investors, entrepreneurs and international influencers to France to help them discover the richness and diversity of France's ecosystems. Calls for contributions are open and available from 29 January 2015 on www.lafrenchtech.com.
- The implementation of French Tech TicketsThis measure was announced by the President of the French Republic at the Conseil supérieur de l'attractivité in October 2014. This tool aims to attract young international entrepreneurs to France by providing them with a residence permit, an individual grant, accommodation in a place of innovation and personalised support for their installation and development. A first batch of 130 projects will be welcomed in 2015.
"Startups think international from the start. The government wants to provide them with tools to meet their needs. Not to do things for them, but to enable them to do better, simpler, faster, more efficiently. insisted Axelle LEMAIRE.
For Emmanuel MACRON, "The French Tech spirit is an example for the entire economy: being able to go beyond labels, corporatism and habits, being able to work together in a stimulating climate of emulation, being able to take risks - this is what our entire economy needs..
(Source: CP Cabinet Emmanuel Macron - January 30, 2015)
