France AI

France has positioned itself as a leading European AI hub through an integrated ecosystem of funding programs operated primarily by BPI France (Banque Publique d'Investissement), the French public investment bank. In March 2025, BPI France announced a €10 billion deployment plan through 2029 to develop the AI ecosystem and facilitate AI adoption by French companies. The flagship programs include the France 2030 Innovation Competition with three tracks (i-PhD for researchers, i-Lab for early-stage startups, i-Nov for growth-stage companies), providing up to €17.5 million in non-dilutive grants. BPI France has invested over €1 billion directly in AI-first companies since 2015, including major funding rounds for Mistral AI, Poolside, and H. The AI Booster program provides training and consulting to help SMEs integrate AI, having supported over 600 companies in 2024. France's 750+ AI startups benefit from a comprehensive support system including seed funding, venture capital through partner funds, commercialization training, and access to European Horizon Europe programs. The ecosystem emphasizes foundation models, AI infrastructure, practical AI applications across industries, and dual-use technologies with both commercial and sovereign applications.