The reindustrialization of France is an imperative for sovereignty, balanced foreign trade, productivity, jobs and economic vitality. Faced with these crucial challenges, Bpifrance has unveiled an ambitious €35 billion plan for the period 2024-2028, built around three priority areas: creating major “industrial cathedrals”, supporting the development and scaling-up of industrial start-ups, and accelerating the transformation of industrial SMEs and SMCs.

Creating major industrial cathedrals

One of the main thrusts of this plan is the construction of major new industrial infrastructures. From semiconductor mega-factories to the valley of battery gigafactories, Bpifrance plays a central role in building these “industrial cathedrals”. The ambition is to contribute to the emergence of several major industrial projects each year. To achieve this goal, Bpifrance is deploying tools in its role as operator of the France 2030 government plan.

Supporting the development and scaling-up of industrial start-ups

Bpifrance is seeing an influx of financing requests from industrial start-ups, with over 2,300 start-ups now accounting for more than 40% of French Tech fundraising in the first half of 2023. In response to this revival, Bpifrance will continue to roll out its support plan for industrial start-ups, with the aim of helping more than 100 new industrial sites emerge every year by 2028. This plan, conceived within the framework of France 2030, includes a continuum of solutions such as the “Première Usine” call for projects, the Industrial Loan, the SPI and FNVI funds, as well as a range of support services designed to assist industrial start-ups at every stage of their development.

Transforming the industrial capabilities of SMEs and SMCs

Industrial SMEs and ETIs, at the heart of Bpifrance’s reindustrialization drive, represent the primary category of companies supported. Bpifrance plans to increase the number of industrial SME clients by 50%, and to triple the number of SME innovation clients over the next five years. Four key elements will guide this transformation:

Accelerating the innovation process: Bpifrance will roll out a continuum of innovation support, with the aim of increasing the number of innovation consulting missions tenfold, doubling innovation financing and opening up SMEs to the innovation ecosystem.

Increasing and transforming industrial capacity: Bpifrance will mobilize its financing, guarantee, equity and support services to support projects aimed at increasing industrial capacity, modernizing and improving performance.

Decarbonization of the industrial fabric: As part of the Climate Plan, Bpifrance will implement measures to provide training, enhance its advisory services, support industrial ETIs, and bring greentech and industrial companies closer together.

Encouraging industrial exports: Bpifrance will adapt its Export Insurance and Export Financing offer to market needs, and reinforce its export support continuum. The aim is for 80% of international support missions to be dedicated to industry by 2028.

“Unicorns” with Impact: a new lease of life for French Tech

In parallel, the Impact France movement, with the help of Bpifrance and other partners, has identified 120 impact startups, 40 of which have been designated as future impact unicorns. Among them, Innovafeed, Hello Charly, Eranova and Banlieues Santé stand out for their innovations in sustainability, education, bioplastics and access to healthcare. Innovafeed, for example, specializes in insect proteins for animal feed, while Eranova transforms green algae into bioplastics.