Summary
In France, enterprises with 1-9 employees are defined as micro-enterprises and those with 10-249 employees are defined as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). France has nearly 3 million SMEs, accounting for 99.8% of all French enterprises. From 2009 to 2015, micro, small and medium enterprises became the key driver of new employment, creating nearly 100,000 jobs.
The French Innovation and Research Law (1999) provides a legal basis for the commercialization of scientific research. In 2015, the French government released France-Europe 2020: National Research Strategy (2015). In 2017, the government invested 10 billion euros to implement the third Investment for the Future plan. Meanwhile, the Big Investment Plan 2018-2022 (GPI), with a total investment of 57 billion euros, was launched to bolster innovation.
Regarding the fiscal and financial support from the government, at the end of 2017, the 2018 Finance Bill was passed, with an announcement of new tax reduction plans. Moreover, in the same year, financial subsidies for SMEs were provided through the “Innovation Contest” program. Besides, the government provides various financing channels for SMEs and start-ups through banks such as Bpifrance and dedicated programs such as the Bourse French Tech program and Accélérateur de Start-up Fund.
Various plans and programs were launched to provide services for entrepreneurs and start-ups. In June 2016, the French government took actions to promote commercialization of scientific research, emphasizing the important role of higher education institutions in connecting public scientific research and businesses. At the end of 2017, the French government designed the Action Plan for Business Growth and Transformation (PACTE), aiming to facilitate business activities in France. French Tech, launched by the Ministry of Economy in 2013, was dedicated to linking French and overseas entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, large enterprises and government agencies to form an ecosystem. This ecosystem promoted the growth of French start-ups and their international expansion. In October 2017, France launched the “French Fab” campaign to promote the brand of the French industry in the international market. In June 2017, Station F, the world’s largest technology start-up incubator, began its operations in Paris. Apart from these plans and programs, the Concoursi-LAB is a national competition for technology companies and an important event for France to boost entrepreneurship.
The Action Plan for Student Entrepreneurs launched by the French Ministry for Higher Education and Research integrates the course module of innovation and entrepreneurship into the entire university curriculum system. The entrepreneurship education in French higher education institutions also highlights international cooperation. To illustrate, in 2016, the EcolePolytechnique, the ENSTA ParisTech and the TélécomParisTech signed a double-degree partnership agreement with Zhejiang University in China. Progress has also been made in entrepreneurship education targeting women. For example, French BNP Paribas Wealth Management and Martine Liautaud’sWomen Initiative Foundation jointly launched the Women Entrepreneur Program for female entrepreneurs from fast-growing firms all over the world.