Is this actionable now?

closed. Annual national competition; the reviewed edition has closed and no later actionable deadline was verified.

Individuals who created a company less than 2 years ago (or intend to create one) in France, carrying a scientifically/technologically innovative deep-tech project. Business-model-only or software-only projects without strong scientific core rarely qualify.

What burden and restrictions apply?

Winners sign a Bpifrance aid agreement, contribute the uncovered share and document approved R&D expenditure and milestones. Support is restricted to the approved work plan, eligible costs and award period; unsupported, unrelated, double-funded or noncompliant expenditure is excluded.

Concours d'innovation i-Lab

Grant can cover up to 60% of eligible costs, with a published ceiling of EUR 600,000 per winning project. · Bpifrance / French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (France 2030) — France

France's flagship national innovation competition (operated by Bpifrance for the Ministry of Higher Education & Research) rewarding deep-tech entrepreneurs creating an innovative technology company, with a substantial grant to fund the project. Current lifecycle: closed. Real economics: Grant can cover up to 60% of eligible costs, with a published ceiling of EUR 600,000 per winning project..

Tier 2 · ranked #25francedeep-techbpifranceprize

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Key facts

Funder	Bpifrance / French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (France 2030) — France
Amount	Grant can cover up to 60% of eligible costs, with a published ceiling of EUR 600,000 per winning project.
Decision time	Written dossiers are assessed for technology, team, IP, market and financing; shortlisted projects may be heard by a jury before national laureates are announced.
Eligibility	Individuals who created a company less than 2 years ago (or intend to create one) in France, carrying a scientifically/technologically innovative deep-tech project. Business-model-only or software-only projects without strong scientific core rarely qualify.
Restrictions	Winners sign a Bpifrance aid agreement, contribute the uncovered share and document approved R&D expenditure and milestones. Support is restricted to the approved work plan, eligible costs and award period; unsupported, unrelated, double-funded or noncompliant expenditure is excluded.
Status	closed

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

Prepare the application dossier (project, team, innovation, market)
Submit online via Bpifrance before the annual deadline
Regional then national jury evaluation
Selection of laureates
Grant award and support

Background

Bpifrance / French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (France 2030) — France operates Concours d'innovation i-Lab. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. i-Lab is a long-running French national deep-tech company-creation competition. The state publishes annual laureates. Winning projects can receive up to EUR 600,000 subject to eligible-cost intensity.

How the application really works

Prepare the application dossier (project, team, innovation, market) → Submit online via Bpifrance before the annual deadline → Regional then national jury evaluation → Selection of laureates → Grant award and support

Tips

Show direct fit with deep technology.
Show direct fit with public-research commercialization.
Show direct fit with breakthrough innovation.

Watch out for

Current lifecycle is closed.
Winners sign a Bpifrance aid agreement, contribute the uncovered share and document approved R&D expenditure and milestones.
Support is restricted to the approved work plan, eligible costs and award period; unsupported, unrelated, double-funded or noncompliant expenditure is excluded.

Track record

i-Lab is a long-running French national deep-tech company-creation competition.
The state publishes annual laureates.
Winning projects can receive up to EUR 600,000 subject to eligible-cost intensity.

The reviewed official corpus does not publish an applicant denominator and comparable selection rate.

Frequently asked questions

Is this actionable now?: closed. Annual national competition; the reviewed edition has closed and no later actionable deadline was verified.
What is the real economic value?: Grant can cover up to 60% of eligible costs, with a published ceiling of EUR 600,000 per winning project.
Who is eligible?: Individuals who created a company less than 2 years ago (or intend to create one) in France, carrying a scientifically/technologically innovative deep-tech project. Business-model-only or software-only projects without strong scientific core rarely qualify.
How does selection work?: Prepare the application dossier (project, team, innovation, market); Submit online via Bpifrance before the annual deadline; Regional then national jury evaluation; Selection of laureates; Grant award and support. Written dossiers are assessed for technology, team, IP, market and financing; shortlisted projects may be heard by a jury before national laureates are announced.
What burden and restrictions apply?: Winners sign a Bpifrance aid agreement, contribute the uncovered share and document approved R&D expenditure and milestones. Support is restricted to the approved work plan, eligible costs and award period; unsupported, unrelated, double-funded or noncompliant expenditure is excluded.
What evidence exists?: i-Lab is a long-running French national deep-tech company-creation competition. The state publishes annual laureates. Winning projects can receive up to EUR 600,000 subject to eligible-cost intensity. The reviewed official corpus does not publish an applicant denominator and comparable selection rate.

Sources

www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/fr/concours-d-innovation-i-lab-84482 — Official national competition, eligibility and laureate history (checked 2026-08-10)
www.bpifrance.fr/nos-appels-a-projets-concours/concours-dinnovation-i-lab — Official application, award ceiling and evaluation route (checked 2026-08-10)