Since its launch, the “Première Usine” call for projects has provided funding for more than 100 projects totaling 500 million euros. Launched in 2022 as part of France 2030, this program—led by the Directorate General for Enterprises and the General Secretariat for Investment, and operated by Bpifrance on behalf of the government, aims to support innovative startups and SMEs with an industrial focus. It facilitates the industrialization of innovative and strategic products in France by providing funding for the construction of the first factory, in the form of grants and repayable advances.

This program is part of the national reindustrialization strategy driven by the France 2030 plan, one of whose goals is to transform France’s scientific and entrepreneurial excellence into industrial successes. Innovative start-ups play a decisive role in the development of future technologies and the country’s economic sovereignty.

Furthermore, “Première Usine” complements the structural mechanisms of France 2030 (one-stop shop grants, i-Demo, etc.) by ensuring a continuum of funding that supports innovative companies at every stage of their growth.

More than 3,500 industry-focused startups have been identified across the country, representing strong potential for reindustrialization and significant socio-economic benefits (job creation, investment, and regional attractiveness). Government support for the emergence of these players is essential to sustaining the momentum of reindustrialization, a significant portion of which is driven by innovative actors.

Winning companies of the 9th cohort of the “Première Usine” call for proposals

• FERTIGHY FRANCE, JUNO PROJECT (Hauts-de-France)
• CYKERO, CYKERO PROJECT (Occitanie)
• MAASH FRANCE, CHAMPIGNAC PROJECT (Grand Est)
• MECANO I.D, STARMAN PROJECT (Occitanie)
• VOLTR, PU2BL PROJECT (Hauts-de-France)
• ASCENDANCE FLIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, PIONAIR PROJECT (Occitanie)

Winning companies from the 8th round of the “Première Usine” call for proposals 

• ENALEES, BATIMENT EBE (Île-de-France)
• WATER HORIZON, H2C FAB (Occitanie)
• ECLAIRION PARIS SUD, AINFRA FACTORY (Île-de-France)
• ORIXHA, L2B2 (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)
• CARBON WATERS, EXFG II (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
• WATTALPS, WATTSUP (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)
• SAS WOODOO, BR (Grand Est)

Roland Lescure, Minister of the Economy, Finance, and Industrial, Energy, and Digital Sovereignty, stated:

“Start-ups and industrial SMEs are at the heart of innovation for the technologies of tomorrow and of France’s economic sovereignty. Through the ‘Première Usine’ program, we support innovative companies from the very earliest stages of their industrialization.”

Sébastien Martin, Minister Delegate for Industry, stated:

“These thirteen winning factories, in strategic sectors such as aerospace, agriculture, electronics, and batteries, are not

merely industrial projects. They are proof that France is securing its manufacturing future. With France 2030, we are making a clear and committed choice in favor of sovereignty, innovation, and sustainable employment across our regions.”

Anne Le Hénanff, Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology, stated:

“Congratulations to the winners of the ‘Première Usine’ program! This initiative, a cornerstone of the France 2030 plan, embodies our commitment to an innovative and competitive industry. These factories, models of excellence, bring our ambition to life: to reindustrialize France by strengthening our technological leadership.”