The French Tech Mission continues to deploy programs to support start-ups in the French ecosystem. In the wake of the Next 40 and the French Tech 120, two benchmark indices for listing the most promising French start-ups, the organization, which reports directly to the government, has just launched the French Tech Health20, a support program intended to support young shoots in the field of health.
About twenty start-ups will be selected to benefit from the support of the competent State services for one year. “This program will support start-ups that innovate and develop solutions that are already essential today. These start-ups also strengthen France’s ability to produce and market the health solutions of tomorrow”, said Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister Delegate for the Digital Transition and Telecommunications. Cédric O’s successor no doubt hopes to witness the appearance of new champions like Doctolib, which this year has become the most valued French start-up (5.8 billion euros), after raising half a billion euros. euros.
Emmanuel Macron wants “to make France the first innovative nation in health in Europe by 2030”
The call for applications is open until December 4th, then a jury will be responsible for selecting the young shoots who will form the first promotion of Health20, according to several criteria. To be eligible, start-ups must be independent and have their head office based in France. Above all, they must develop a breakthrough technology that corresponds to one of the areas mentioned by the Health Innovation 2030 plan, namely digital health, infectious and emerging diseases, biotherapies and bioproductions of innovative therapies, biomedicines and devices innovative medicine. As a reminder, this plan is endowed with 7 billion euros for “to make France the first innovative nation in health in Europe by 2030”according to the wishes of Emmanuel Macron.
The Health20 program is in addition to Green20 (environment), Agri20 (agriculture) and DeepNum20 (disruptive innovations in digital, electronics or robotics), the three other programs previously created to unearth the nuggets of French Tech in different sectors. Beyond playing a curation role in the ecosystem, these mechanisms can offer welcome support in these times of crisis for French Tech, with fundraising much rarer in a difficult economic context.
However, several health players have distinguished themselves during the Covid-19 pandemic, such as Doctolib. Proof of the dynamism of innovation in digital health, a dedicated structure, called PariSanté Campus, was inaugurated in December 2021 to bring together research institutes specialized in e-health, SMEs, large groups, as well as sixty start-ups.