i-Nov competition: which Bpifrance projects will be selected?

The innovation competition is back with a 4th wave supported by Bpifrance, ADEME, or FranceAgriMer. I remind you of the main criteria for the expected projects:

• The competition is aimed at innovative startups and SMEs
• The R&D project amounts to between 600K€ and 5M€.
• This is a single-partner project
• The project will last between 12 and 36 months.

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The purpose of this article is to give you an insight into the projects expected in this innovation contest, now called "i-Nov Innovation Contest" (formerly "Innovation Contest - Growth").

Does your project meet the criteria? Don't delay! You have until October 8 to submit your application in the theme that optimizes your chances of success. Test your eligibility in 2min ⏱

As a project can only be submitted to one operator and on one theme, I would like to give you an insight into the expected projects for each theme through a series of 4 articles, starting with those supported by Bpifrance.

In this 4th wave of the competition, Bpifrance is selecting projects that address one of the following themes

• Health - Surgery of the future
• Space
• French Fab - Innovative materials
• Digital Deep Tech

[Expert advice] As far as the latter is concerned, be careful: the field of application will determine the choice of theme. For example, do you have a project in the field of mobility? To maximize your chances, you should apply to the "City in transition" theme run by ADEME, and not to the " Deep Tech " theme run by Bpifrance. If in doubt, don't hesitate to contact me 😉.

Bpifrance innovation contest theme: Health - Surgery of the Future

Bpifrance will select for financing innovative solutions that respond to clearly identified hospital issues relating to

• Surgical care and procedure
• training of health professionals
• patient follow-up.

Bpifrance innovation contest theme: Space

This theme will support innovative space projects:

• de développement d’une offre industrielle française compétitive dans le domaine des petits satellites (<100kg)
• the use of signals and data from space (images, telemetry, positioning, dating, telecommunication...) for the society

Bpifrance innovation contest theme: French Fab - Innovative materials

Projects are expected to propose a product or service innovation based on advanced and/or active materials (possibly bio-based).

Particular interest will be given to the following materials:

• nanostructured materials, nanomaterials, reactive or adaptive materials
• membranes for separative applications
• electrode materials for fuel cells, batteries or supercapacitors
• materials and associated deposition processes for surface functionalization
• conductive inks for large surface electronics, polymers for electronics
• optimized powders for additive manufacturing
• materials with high environmental value
• biotechnology-based, bioinspired or biomimetic materials
• multi-material hybrid composites.

Bpifrance innovation contest theme: Digital Deep Tech

The projects supported will be those involving the development of digital technologies, while offering very strong market prospects. The projects will have to propose, thanks to the technology, a breakthrough innovation in terms of product or use.

Disruptive projects are expected in the following technological fields

• Quantum computing
• Artificial intelligence and big data processing
• Blockchain
• Augmented reality, virtual reality.

The consideration of ethical, societal, environmental, regulatory (data protection), security issues, etc., will also be a point of study.

To find out your eligibility on the i-Nov innovation competition, take the 2-minute test ⏱ :

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