It appears the world is lastly waking as much as the realities of local weather change. Massive polluters similar to China and India have made main commitments to cut back air pollution, whereas the Paris Settlement represents a monumental worldwide effort.
As such, there’s by no means been a greater time to start out a enterprise in cleantech and renewable power. And there are few higher locations to do it than France. With European R&D funding, free motion of expertise and burgeoning tech hubs throughout the nation, France is on the forefront of the cleantech future. Right here then are some things to think about earlier than you’ll be able to change the world.
Choose a location
France has chased the tech trade with a steely willpower, and their strategy has already borne fruit. The Business of the Future initiative has led to huge funding, and the creation of quite a few tech hubs in France.
Hyperlinks have additionally been established internationally, with international French tech hubs and powerful hyperlinks with Canada, similar to the connection with Écotech Québec. These connections have made France a really perfect platform for tech firms to promote their merchandise overseas and proceed to develop. The outcomes are clear, with France boasting the biggest international delegation of startups on the final two Shopper Electronics Present occasions.
Associated article: Begin a Enterprise in France in 8 Simple Steps
A giant a part of latest authorities coverage has been the French Tech scheme, which has established a number of cities and areas as hubs for various tech companies. France now boasts a wider unfold of tech firms than any of its neighbours, with outposts in fifteen cities together with Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lyon, Good and Montpellier. Which one is greatest for it’s possible you’ll depend upon native bills, established firms and proximity to producers.
Attend cleantech occasions
As with so many areas of tech, cleantech is an open and collaborative enterprise. Whereas one lone coder or engineer might have an important concept, it usually takes an opportunity assembly with like-minded people to show this right into a profitable enterprise.
The Cleantech Discussion board Europe occasion is often hosted in France, with 2016’s occasion going down in Lyon, a metropolis with a selected deal with cleantech and biotech. There are additionally quite a few common tech conferences, with massive occasions like La Digital Tech Convention and the La French Contact Convention, designed to construct bridges overseas.
Tech hub cities will usually host smaller networking occasions too. Probably the greatest rising traits via which you could find eager companions is the hackathon: a group of cleantech coders, engineers and entrepreneurs spitballing new concepts.
Take this instance in Ukraine, which spawned quite a few profitable cleantech firms. In the event you’re exterior France, an occasion like this could possibly be the catalyst to bringing what you are promoting right here.
Benefit from Tech funding and subsidies
One of many largest benefits of forming a tech firm within the EU is the Horizon 2020 programme. This scheme supplies 80bn euros of R&D grants between 2014 and 2020. Designed to spice up innovation throughout the Eurozone, it goals to get tasks off the bottom shortly, with minimal purple tape and broad eligibility for all sizes of enterprise. Grants additionally exist for developments in good cities know-how, a large development space for cleantech options.
There are a number of distinctive funding advantages to incorporating in France, too:
- The nation provides a wonderful R&D tax credit score, with 30% of bills as much as 100m euros.
- There may be additionally a separate innovation tax credit score, providing 20% of innovation R&D bills as much as 400,000 euros, plus a full yr of company revenue tax exemption.
Funding funding can also be freely accessible in France. Public funding financial institution BpiFrance spent greater than every other investor in Europe in 2016, with complete tech funding in France final yr totalling 2.72bn euros. That’s an increase of effectively over a billion euros on 2015, and demonstrates a development that noticed extra offers struck in France final yr than anyplace else tracked by Tech.eu.
Stick with your strengths
There’s a false impression round any type of tech enterprise that you need to invent one thing superb. If in case you have the skilland funding to create a miniature fusion generator, then that’s clearly incredible. However innovation within the tech enterprise doesn’t should be wholly technological. It may possibly err extra on the facet of constructing an important enterprise that additionally makes tech.
You may not be capable of develop a brand new type of battery or capacitor, however you may nonetheless manufacture, set up or restore them. You can supply consulting on the best way to save power, connecting companies with a number of firms who may also help them hit escalating power targets. Innovation can contain practices and providers, bridging the hole between creatives and enterprise individuals.
Be price acutely aware
Customers and companies have a want to be eco-friendly and environmentally acutely aware. The climate is making a fairly robust case for taking a stand, and governments are imposing targets on companies and their buildings. However individuals additionally aren’t prepared or essentially capable of overspend. That is notably true at a time of constant financial uncertainty the world over, particularly in Europe.
Cleantech is hitting a renewed wave of curiosity, however it’s additionally going through as much as sure threats. For the most effective likelihood at securing contracts with large companies and governments – who might not follow targets imposed by the Paris Conference and so on – your worth proposition must transcend the ethical crucial. Arising with price range reasonably priced options often is the most palatable possibility and greatest approach ahead.
Observe power laws
The Paris Settlement certain lots of the world’s largest nations to a broad promise: to maintain world common temperature rises under 2°C. Particular person nations have introduced totally different plans to realize this, and France’s is without doubt one of the extra complete. Following on from targets set in 2014, France has made a renewed dedication to rising its renewable power capability.
The Plan de programmation pluriannuelle de l’Energie (PPE) units out aims to be achieved between 2016 and 2023. The end result shall be to double the present fee of installations, with specific development for photo voltaic and onshore wind energy.
France is already going robust on this regard, with 2015 installations of wind energy rising 23.3%, and photo voltaic rising by 25%. Lowering France’s present reliance on nuclear energy is a significant purpose, with the hope to cut back it to 50% by 2025. The flexibility for renewables to plug this hole may go away you with a giant windfall.
In the event you’re all for turning into a cleantech entrepreneur in France and need assistance opening your organization, opening a French checking account or discovering an English-speaking French accountant or should you need assistance with visas and immigration, you’ll be able to obtain our free information under and both name us on 0033 (0)1 53 57 49 10 or electronic mail us via our contact web page. We’ll be blissful that can assist you in your method to opening your cleantech firm in France!
