French Tech

French Tech is a label assigned to French metropolises recognised for their startup ecosystem. It is also a name used by technologically innovative French businesses on all continents.

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

Historic

Nine French cities received the French Tech label 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 candidatures later in 2015.^[2]

In January 2015, French minister for digital affairs Axelle Lemaire announced a budget of €15 million to develop the attractiveness of the French Tech abroad.^[3][4]

The Banque Publique d'Investissement (BPI) also announces investing 200 million euros in subventions from 2015.^[3] In 2012 alone, the French public bank for investment (BPI) had invested €700 million in this ecosystem.^[5]

Axelle Lemaire also announced the establishment of 'French Tech Hubs' in major international cities like Montréal, 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 gradually opened since February 2014.^[7][8]

In 2016, the movement continues to grow 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 in the 2015 edition of CES.^[10]

Labelised cities

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

In November 2014, nine cities are labelised:^[11]

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

In June 2015, four new cities are labeled:

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

To this list are added four thematic areas:

• 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, Secretary of State in charge of digital affairs.^[13]

The signatories of this charter are great actors of the retail sector: 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" says Daniel Broche, e-commerce director at Boulanger. The charter was signed during the national 'week of connected objects' 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 USA
• FrenchTech Ticket - Paris

References

1. Lucie Ronfaut (12). Le Figaro, ed. "Neuf villes françaises reçoivent le label "French Tech"". Retrieved 10 October 2015. Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. Pierre France (12). Rue89 Strasbourg, ed. "Pas encore de French Tech pour Strasbourg, le dossier en retard". Retrieved 7 October 2015. Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. "La French Tech". lafrenchtech.com. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
4. "La French Tech à l’offensive à l’international". lesechos.fr. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
5. "A vibrant ecosystem". en.lafrenchtech.com/a-vibrant-ecosystem. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
6. "Des ambassadeurs pour faire briller la French Tech à l’international". latribune.fr. Retrieved 2015-10-11.
7. http://bonjourlafrenchtech.com/french-tech-hubs-all-over-the-world/
8. http://frenchtechhub.com/about/
9. http://www.journaldunet.com/web-tech/start-up/1170298-la-french-tech-en-force-au-ces-de-las-vegas/
10. http://www.commentcamarche.net/news/5865879-ces-2015-la-french-tech-se-prepare
11. "Les 9 premières métropoles FrenchTech". gouvernement.fr. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2015..
12. Sylvain Arnulf (12 June 2015). "François Hollande à Angers : "vous aurez la French Tech !"... grâce à votre cité des objets connectés". usine-digitale.fr. Retrieved 16 June 2015..
13. "la grande distribution". http://www.economie.gouv.fr/objets-connectes-french-tech-grande-distribution. Retrieved 17 December 2015. External link in |work= (help)