Education Revolution: From Grandes Écoles to Startup Schools

Recognizing that traditional engineering education, while excellent, didn't produce entrepreneurs, France innovated in tech education:

École 42: Xavier Niel's tuition-free, teacher-free coding school revolutionized tech education. The government didn't fund it but facilitated expansion, recognizing its value in democratizing programming skills.

Entrepreneurship Programs: Every major engineering school added startup tracks. HEC's entrepreneurship program became one of Europe's best. Sciences Po launched a startup incubator. Even ENA, training ground for civil servants, added innovation modules.

Public-Private Partnerships: Programs like La Grande École du Numérique, funded by government but operated by private partners, trained thousands in digital skills. Focus on underserved communities ensured opportunity spread beyond traditional elites.