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| French Tech Bordeaux | |
|---|---|
| Name | French Tech Bordeaux |
| Native name | French Tech Bordeaux |
| Formation | 2014 |
| Type | Startup ecosystem and community |
| Headquarters | Bordeaux, France |
| Region served | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
French Tech Bordeaux is a designated startup ecosystem and community hub centered in Bordeaux within the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It forms part of the national French Tech movement alongside other metropolitan capitals such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, and Toulouse. The cluster connects entrepreneurs, investors, research institutions, and public bodies including La French Tech networks and regional development agencies.
The roots trace to national policy initiatives like the La French Tech Manifesto and the creation of the La French Tech label under the French government led by administrations during the Hollande Cabinet era, aiming to promote hubs in cities such as Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes, Strasbourg, and Montpellier. Local actors including Bordeaux Métropole, Ville de Bordeaux, and economic development agencies coordinated with universities such as University of Bordeaux and Grandes Écoles like INSEEC and ENSEIRB-MATMECA to form a recognized community. Early milestones involved collaboration with accelerators and incubators such as La Cantine numérique bordelaise, Le Village by CA, and research centers like Institut d'Études Politiques de Bordeaux and CNRS laboratories. The label’s evolution paralleled funding reforms including national programs overseen by agencies like Bpifrance and regional investment funds aligned with Conseil régional de Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Governance is anchored by a local steering committee that liaises with metropolitan authorities including Bordeaux Métropole and municipal stakeholders like Mairie de Bordeaux. The organizational model links to national coordination by Mission French Tech and works with regional development bodies such as Agence France Entrepreneur and Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine offices. Strategic partners include academic institutions like University of Bordeaux, research centers such as INRIA and CNRS, incubators like Technopole Bordeaux Montesquieu, and private stakeholders including Bpifrance and corporate partners like Capgemini and Dassault Systèmes. Advisory input has come from investor networks such as France Angels and venture capital firms active in the region.
The Bordeaux cluster hosts startups across sectors including agrifood-adjacent ventures working with research institutes, deep tech companies linked to INRIA and CNRS labs, and digital firms scaling with support from incubators like Le Village by CA. Notable regional companies and scaleups have included firms that originated or expanded in Bordeaux hubs, collaborating with players such as Caisse des Dépôts, La Banque Postale, and multinational partners like Orange Business Services and SNCF Digital. The ecosystem fosters links to maritime and logistics actors including Port of Bordeaux stakeholders, aerospace clusters connected to Aerospace Valley, and wine-tech ventures interfacing with institutions like CIVB (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux).
French Tech Bordeaux runs programs coordinated with national and regional schemes such as acceleration pathways inspired by Bpifrance Le Hub and incubation frameworks seen in partnerships with Incubateur d'Aquitaine and university incubators at University of Bordeaux. Initiatives target talent pipelines through collaborations with engineering schools like ENSEIRB-MATMECA, business schools like KEDGE Business School and BEM Bordeaux Management School, and vocational projects linked to Pôle Emploi and chambers such as Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Bordeaux Gironde. The hub organizes themed programs addressing sustainability in conjunction with environmental bodies like ADEME and cultural-creative industry projects tied to festivals such as Semaine du Golfe and local museums including Musée d'Aquitaine.
Community events bring together stakeholders from municipal, academic, and private sectors: meetups and hackathons partner with coworking spaces like La Cordée and Wojo; demo days and pitch sessions collaborate with accelerators such as Le Village by CA and NFactory. Major events involve coordination with national showcases like VivaTech and regional summits hosted by Bordeaux Métropole or university venues such as Talence campus. Networking includes ties to investment forums such as Hello Tomorrow and sectoral conferences involving VINEXPO-adjacent wine-tech showcases. Local festivals and public cultural events amplify outreach through media partners including Sud Ouest and broadcast entities like France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
The initiative contributed to job creation and innovation synergies across sectors tied to regional strengths: viticulture innovation with stakeholders like Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin and CIVB; digital transformation projects with partners such as Capgemini and Dassault Systèmes; and biotechnologies interfacing with CHU de Bordeaux and hospital research units. It enhanced links between startups and corporate open innovation programs at firms like BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole and catalyzed R&D partnerships with laboratories of CNRS and INRIA. The cluster influenced regional investment flows coordinated by Bpifrance and regional funds managed by entities such as Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Caisse d’Epargne Aquitaine Poitou-Charentes.
Key partnerships include collaborations with academic institutions University of Bordeaux, research organizations CNRS and INRIA, corporate partners like Capgemini and Orange, and financial bodies including Bpifrance, France Angels, Caisse des Dépôts, and regional banks such as Banque Populaire Aquitaine Centre Atlantique. Funding channels span public grants from national initiatives under Ministry of Economy and Finance (France), regional development funds via Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, equity investments from venture capital firms, and crowdfunding platforms including KissKissBankBank. Strategic alliances also involve European programs coordinated by entities like Horizon 2020 and interregional networks such as French Tech Tremplin and other metropolitan French Tech capitals.
Category:Technology hubs in France