The big investment plan, France 2030, was launched by French President Emmanuel Macron on October 12, 2021. This plan is in line with the stimulus plan, France Relance. Bruno Bonnell, Secretary General for Investment (SGPI), is piloting the plan on behalf of the Prime Minister. France 2030 is endowed with 54 billion Euros to be deployed over 5 years. Half of the plan’s funding is earmarked for emerging players and half for decarbonization initiatives. The plan aims to make up for France’s industrial lag and will therefore invest massively in innovative technologies and support the ecological transition.
The France 2030 plan pursues 10 objectives based on 3 themes: better production, better living, and a better understanding of our world by 2030.
The France 2030 plan has been implemented by several operators including the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), the French National Research Agency (ANR), the French Public Investment Bank (Bpifrance), and the French Deposit Office Caisse des Dépôts (CDC). The main beneficiaries of the plan are start-ups, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), ETIs (intermediatesized enterprises), big industrial groups, higher education establishments, research organizations, laboratories, and schools.
The France 2030 plan has already proven its success. Its initial results are as follows as of June 2024: 21 billion euros have already been committed, 40,000 direct jobs have been created or maintained, 34,000 new diploma courses in the trades of the future have been opened in 2022 and 2023, and 8.5 million tons of CO2 have been saved per year based on projects committed to date.
Ultimately, this plan pursues the French government’s strategy in favor of investment, innovation, and re-industrialization. It positions France not just as a player, but as a leader in tomorrow’s world.
Following are four new calls from France 2030 –
CALL FOR PROJECTS: Innovative Technologies for Immersive and Virtual Worlds
- Operator: Bpifrance
- Objective: This call finances ambitious projects of technology companies positioned in the immersive virtual worlds value chain. It aims to support these companies in the development of their solutions, enabling them to cross technological thresholds and scale up to strengthen the positioning of their offer on the European market.
- Eligibility: The applicant must have a permanent establishment in France; for companies, they must be registered in France in the Trade and Companies Register (RCS) on the date the application is submitted.
- Award amount: The assistance provided to economic activities will be made up of a grant and a repayable portion, the amounts of which vary according to the project. Generally speaking, the grant share will be: 75% for predominantly industrial research projects and 60% for predominantly experimental development projects.
- Application deadline: May 22, 2025
CALL FOR PROJECTS: Bicycle Industries
- Operator: ADEME
- Objective: As part of France 2030, this call for projects aims to support efforts to boost competitiveness, sovereignty, innovation, and productive investment in the bicycle industry, so that tomorrow’s bicycles and their equipment can be produced in France.
- Eligibility: Projects with a strong collaborative component, notably involving start-ups, SMEs, ETIs or research partners and universities, and, if necessary, local authorities, will be given special consideration, as will projects that give priority to sharing objectives and results within the emerging industrial sector (“common good” concept).
- Award amount: The award amount varies in size and scope.
- Application deadline: December 9, 2024
CALL FOR PROJECTS: Research Programs in the Humanities and Social Sciences
- Operator: ANR
- Objective: This call for expressions of interest is part of France 2030, which aims to encourage the emergence of research programs capable of structuring the Humanities and Social Sciences (SHS) in France and responding to major societal challenges.
- Eligibility: French research institutions.
- Award amount: The minimum amount of grant requested must exceed €5 million.
- Application deadline: October 1, 2024
CALL FOR PROJECTS: Skills and Trades of the Future
- Operator: ANR and CDC
- Objective: This call for expressions of interest is in line with the objectives and levers of France 2030. It aims to meet the needs of companies and public institutions in terms of training, training engineering, initial and continuing training, and the attractivenessof training courses, to enable the acquisition of the skills required for the professions of the future in France 2030.
- Eligibility: Start-ups, SMEs, large companies, and training organizations.
- Award amount: The minimum grant requested is €1 million for training programs and €200,000 for diagnostics.
- Application deadline: Applications can be received on a rolling basis throughout the year.
