Deep Tech Emergence

While consumer startups grabbed headlines, France's real differentiation emerged in deep tech—startups based on significant scientific or engineering innovation. Building on strengths in mathematics, physics, and engineering, French deep tech startups attracted global attention.

Pasqal and Alice & Bob pushed quantum computing boundaries. Exotec revolutionized warehouse robotics. Innovafeed pioneered insect-based proteins. Carbios developed enzymatic recycling for plastics. These weren't just apps or platforms but fundamental innovations with potential to reshape industries.

The government supported this trend through dedicated funding programs and by connecting startups with research institutions. The Deep Tech Plan, launched in 2019, provided €2.5 billion in support. By 2024, France had become Europe's leading deep tech ecosystem.