Some 1,118 French companies were identified in a study as “with high growth potential” and some could join the ranks of mid-sized companies (ETI), according to the view of the executive which wishes to see their number increase half a thousand by 2027.
This study was to be submitted on Tuesday to the Minister of Business, Olivia Grgoire.
The companies identified from databases, and its own methodology, by the BDO audit group, achieve between 10 and 200 million euros in turnover, and display an average growth rate of 20% over the years. 2017-2022.
The three most represented sectors are the manufacturing industry (275), trade or vehicle repair (106), or information and communication (155).
They are mainly located in Le-de-France (350) and Auvergne-Rhne Alpes (176).
These companies, already growing, could accelerate this “by taking advantage of certain levers” such as the development of exports and innovation, according to the study.
The majority are already involved in exports, but half generate less than 10% of their turnover there. Likewise, they “seem to remain behind” in terms of patent filings: only 18% filed one between 2010 and 2023.
While an ETI is defined as a company employing between 250 and 4,999 employees, or a smaller company but whose turnover exceeds 50 million euros, 30% of the companies identified by the study exceed 50 million euros. .
But the panel is made up of almost 90% of small structures with fewer than 250 employees.
These companies – which do not necessarily know that they have been identified by this study – “could benefit from public measures” such as Territoires d’Industrie, France 2030, two industrialization programs, or the ETIncelles program”, notes BDO.
Based on the observation that France, with 5,600 ETIs, is far behind Germany which has more than 10,000, President Emmanuel Macron launched the ETIncelles administrative simplification program in November for them, with the objective of increasing by 500 their number by 2027.
This study “is a contribution to the debate”, because “the very definition of a growth SME was not necessarily established in the literature”, explained to AFP Arnaud Naudan, chairman of the board of directors of BDO France, she same member of METI (ETI movement) and “mission company” status for its ethical commitments.