Innovation grant from Bpifrance

Do you have an innovative idea just waiting to blossom? Don't let your innovation project suffocate under the weight of the costs associated with studying its feasibility! Find out how Bpifrance's innovation grant can help you develop your competitiveness and start-up potential.

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Aimed at SMEs and ETIs, this funding scheme, formerly known as Aide à la Faisabilité de l'Innovation (AFI), can reach €50,000, for an innovation program lasting from 6 to 24 months.

SMEs and ETIs, innovative projects eligible for innovation feasibility assistance

Bpifrance supports start-ups, VSEs, SMEs and ETIs at every stage of their innovation process, with tailored support solutions and a wide range of innovation financing schemes. The innovation grant is specifically aimed at SMEs and ETIs. It aims to encourage these companies to innovate, by helping them to validate the feasibility of their innovative projects.

Any technological, artistic or cultural innovation project may be eligible for this Innovation Feasibility Grant. Bpifrance's innovation grant supports research, development and innovation (RDI) projects with strong potential for commercialization or industrialization. This financing can also be granted to the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), and in particular to SMEs and ETIs innovating in the fields of video games, cinema, audiovisual production or fashion. Finally, the innovation grant can support innovative projects in the agri-food industry.

Validating the feasibility of an innovation, an essential step for start-ups

The feasibility and opportunity study is a crucial phase in any innovation process, enabling the technical, economic and commercial viability of the project to be determined before committing significant resources. Young innovative companies therefore need to integrate new skills into their innovation teams, in order to validate each of the many components of their project: sales and marketing engineering, technical and economic feasibility, strategic positioning, intellectual property, partner search, etc.

However, from the very beginning of the company's creation, through to the completion of the innovation process and the emergence of a fast-growing startup, the equity capital of young innovative companies is often insufficient.

Research and development projects: what expenses can be financed by the innovation grant?

_{Bpifrance's Aide à la Faisabilité de l'Innovation takes the form of a grant covering up to 70% of innovation feasibility expenses, up to a maximum of €50,000.}

Eligible expenses include, first and foremost, studies to assess the potential of the innovation project, highlighting its opportunities and risks, and identifying the resources needed to bring it to fruition. Also eligible are studies on strategic positioning, validation of the project's technical and economic feasibility, the design approach, and the recruitment of R&D managers.

This funding supports SMEs through an innovation program lasting from 6 to 24 months, enabling them to validate the feasibility of even the most ambitious innovation projects.

Bpifrance's innovation grant represents a unique opportunity to support young innovative companies in the maturation phase of their innovation project. The competitiveness of future startups depends on this crucial phase of validating the feasibility of the innovation.

From the creation of innovative companies to the international deployment of technological champions, Bpifrance offers a wide range of financing solutions for innovation. The Future Investment Program (Programme d'investissement d'avenir - PIA), now known as the France 2030 plan, drives these many innovation schemes through a number of innovation competitions and calls for projects.

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