Our History
Officially Bpifrance was created in 2013 but its roots go back a hundred years. It is the culmination of a number of entities created and merged over the subsequent years. Today, we are the trusted partner for entrepreneurs and offer a continuum of solutions adapted to every key step in a business’ growth.
-
13th of March 1917
France is severely weakened by the war effort, but the government is already thinking ahead to France’s economic recovery once hostilities have ceased. A law is passed enabling the granting of loans to SMEs and small businesses and authorising the creation of mutual guarantee societies in the hope that it will reinvigorate the French economy.
-
30th of November 1923
As tourism across the whole of France is booming, the hotel owners of France ask to benefit from loan facilities to renovate their hotels damaged in the war. They successfully campaign for the creation of the Crédit National Hôtelier, which is the first step in the creation of Bpifrance.
-
9th of March 1936
The credit national hotelier becomes the Caisse Centrale de credit hotelier, commercial et industriel (CCCHCI): a central lending institution for hoteliers, small businesses and small industrial companies.
-
3rd of January 1967
Creation of the of Anvar, the national agency for research and development. Its role is to promote research undertaken by laboratories and universities to the French industry
-
23rd of December 1980
Creation of the Crédit d’équipemement of SMEs (CEPME) , the main investment and financing institution for SMEs.
-
November 1982
Sofaris, a loan guarantee programme, is created in order to guarantee some of the risk taken by banks and other lending institutions
-
1984
Creation, with the CDC, of Avenir Entreprises, the shareholder equity activity of the CEPME
-
28th of November 1996
The CEPME is in trouble. To save it the prime minister decides to create the Bank for the development of SMEs (BDPME) by merging CEPME and Sofaris
-
July 2005
Creation of OSEO by merging BDPME and Anvar. Its mission is promoting and financing innovation in French industry and particularly for SMEs
-
30th of October 2008
Creation of the Strategic Investment Fund (FSI)
-
12th of July 2013
Bpifrance is launched.
Oseo, CDC Entreprises and FSI join up to form Bpifrance
-
1st of April 2014
Bpifrance Investissement is created when CDC Entreprises, FSI and FSI regions regroup
-
2014
Boost in funding for the social and solidarity economy and support programs to help companies export
-
2015
Launch of three accelerators for start-ups, mid-caps and large caps which marks the beginning of Bpifrance’s activity as coach for entrepreneurs.
-
2017
Bpifrance becomes the French export credit agency with the integration of Coface Garantie publique.
-
2018
Bpifrance’s activity continues to grow as it becomes the French sovereign fund with the integration of CDC International Capital