On the occasion of the launch of the first European Deeptech Week, Bpifrance takes stock of the annual Deeptech plan, dedicated to a resilient ecosystem ready to scale up.

Paris, March 16, 2026 – On the occasion of the launch of the first European Deeptech Week, which will take place from March 16 to 20, Bpifrance is looking back on the Deep Tech Plan that it has been implementing on behalf of the government. Since 2019, the fundamentals of the sector have continued to strengthen: the number of startups and the amounts invested have significantly increased, deep tech is becoming more integrated into the socioeconomic world, and Paris has risen to become the 3rd largest deep tech ecosystem globally. While 2025 saw record investments driven by established values, the market remains selective. In a context where Europe lags behind the United States despite its growing deep tech presence, the European ecosystem has strong assets to scale up. It is in this perspective that Bpifrance is launching the European Deeptech Week.

Paul-François Fournier, Executive Director of Innovation at Bpifrance, stated: “Deep tech is no longer a promise: it represents 50,000 jobs, 5 billion in revenue, and startups that are actively integrated into industrial value chains. To transform this momentum into European power, we need to change the scale: attract new capital, bring startups and large companies closer, and think European from the start. This is the essence of the European Deeptech Week.”

Rising fundamentals and an ecosystem integrating into the socioeconomic world

Since the launch of the Deep Tech Plan in 2019, the French ecosystem has continued to strengthen. The number of startups created each year has doubled, from 207 in 2019 to 410 in 2025. Funding has tripled, reaching 4.1 billion euros, representing half of French Tech’s total funding. According to Dealroom, Paris is now the 3rd largest global deep tech ecosystem in terms of funding raised, behind the Bay Area and Boston.

Deep tech is now firmly integrated into the French socioeconomic fabric, with 2,830 active startups generating 5.4 billion in revenue and creating 50,000 direct jobs. These startups operate more than 200 industrial sites across the country, including 15 unicorns and nearly 60 listed startups. The ecosystem is diverse and impactful: industrial startups (47%), health (42%), green tech (25%), and digital (21%).

A selective market, corporates stepping in

In 2025, there were record investments driven by established values: Mistral AI ($1.7 billion in Series C), Loft Orbital ($170 million), Alice & Bob ($100 million), and Adcytherix ($135 million). However, the market remains selective, with early-stage investments stabilizing around €600 million and average round sizes increasing, indicating greater investor discipline.

The most significant signal of the year was the increased activity of major European technology companies in the deep tech sector. Strategic investments observed included Dassault Aviation in Harmattan AI, Renault in Wandercraft, ASML in Mistral AI, Bosch, Nokia, and Nvidia in Scintil Photonics. In a highly competitive innovation environment, these actions aim to co-innovate, secure value chains, and renew production methods.

Regarding exits, there were 27 operations in 2025, including 3 buyouts by private equity funds (EQT on Waga Energy, Motion Equity, Vespa Capital). The acquisition of ImCheck by Ipsen ($350 million), the consolidation of Affluent Medical, and the acquisition of Koyeb by Mistral AI confirm that deep tech is now fueling industrial innovation strategies.

Emphasis on strategic sectors, Europe’s need to accelerate

The geopolitical context is reshaping investment priorities. In France, 72% of deep tech fundraising in 2025 focused on strategic technologies (€2.9 billion), compared to 25% in 2019. Four sectors are driving this trend: space, defense, and dual-tech (Loft Orbital, Unseenlab, Preligens), AI, cloud, and cybersecurity (Mistral AI, Genesis AI, Sekoia.io), semiconductors (DIAMFAB, Quandela, Soitec), and energy (Waga Energy, Accenta, Calogena).

Globally, the United States saw an unprecedented increase in deep tech funding, driven by AI, capturing $137 billion in 2025 (+67%). Europe reached €21.6 billion (+13%), while China dropped to €16.2 billion (-12%). France solidified its position as the second-largest actor on the continent, after the UK and ahead of Germany.

Despite the increasing gap, Europe has strong fundamentals: €132 billion invested in deep tech since 2020, 7,300 active university spinouts, and 55 unicorns created on the continent.

However, the European ecosystem has strong assets to strengthen. Europe cannot simply replicate the American or Chinese models. It must assert its own identity, leveraging its academic excellence, industrial density, and strong public sector. Deep tech startups are the link between these pillars, but several levers need to be activated:

– Connecting Europe: The most advanced startups are already operating transnationally (headquarters, branches, investors, commercial partnerships). This dynamic needs to be amplified. – Mobilizing private capital: The French ecosystem will require €30 billion by 2030. Institutional investors, CVCs, family offices, and private equity firms need to get involved alongside traditional VCs. – Bridging industry and startups: Scaling up strategic investments, activating public and private procurement, and consolidating sectors through exits.

It is with this goal in mind that Bpifrance is launching the European Deeptech Week.

Bpifrance’s actions in 2025

Since 2019, Bpifrance has allocated over €10 billion to the deep tech ecosystem as part of France 2030. In 2025, amid a more selective market, this support remained strong:

– €796 million in funding to 1,080 beneficiaries – €414 million in equity investments (90 startups invested or reinvested in) – €293 million in funds of funds – 979 support missions (Deeptech Seed, Tandem & Tango, IP Strategy Diagnostics, Diag Europe) – First investment in a non-French European startup (ICEYE, land surveillance through SAR radar) – Support for ecosystem development (PUI program, strategic partnerships, team building)

The European Deeptech Week: Building Europe’s technological competitiveness

From March 16 to 20, 2026, Bpifrance, in collaboration with Inskip Entrepreneurs, and with the support of France Deeptech and the European Commission, will host the first European Deeptech Week in Paris. This high-intensity week will bring together over 2,500 actors from the European deep tech ecosystem for the first time on this scale.

The event will feature 2,500 participants from 25+ European countries, over 40 events, and 50+ partners. The program includes startup-investor meetings in the initial days, gradual involvement of corporates and LPs, leading up to the Deeptech Summit on Thursday, March 19, with keynotes, strategic debates, and closed-door meetings.

Additionally, there will be around twenty side events labeled in Paris, including sectoral dinners, LPs & investors cocktails, and the European Deeptech Night.

Who will be present? Startups, SMEs, & ETIs (35%), industrials & corporates (20%), researchers & labs (20%), investors – VC, CVC, LPs, family offices (15%), public decision-makers & European agencies (10%).

The ambition is to break down barriers between actors and countries, showcase successful collaborations, and accelerate the collective movement to make European deep tech a driver of industrialization and technological competitiveness.

Find more details about the program here. For accreditation requests, please contact: presse@bpifrance.fr.

[1] Dealroom Ecosystem Index, 2025