French Government Plans to Invest €1.8 Billion to Support the French Cloud Industry
The French Government has announced a €1.8 billion plan to support research projects in the cloud industry.
The French Government has announced a €1.8 billion plan to support the French cloud industry. The plan’s objective is to contribute to the ongoing development of France’s cloud computing industry and support it in competing in the global markets.
The plan was announced by Minister for Digital Affairs Cédric O at the Paris office of OVHCloud. Developed jointly with the Cloud industry, the economic plan is the third pillar of the French national strategy for the Cloud. This investment includes €667 million from public funding, €680 million from private co-financing and € 444 million from European funding. The plan is part of the fourth Programme d’investissements d’avenir (PIA4) and France Relance.
Twenty-three R&D projects (€421 million in public funding) have already been selected by the French State. 85% of available funding will be for SMEs, start-ups, research institutes, open-source projects or projects that aim to relocate their industrial activities to France.
A new call for expressions of interest will open before the end of 2021 focusing on projects on collaborative work (SaaS). A call for projects will also open in the first trimester of 2022 to support R&D projects (in particular those of European scope) to identify disruptive projects.
In addition, €66 million will be allocated to research focusing on breakthrough technologies, through a Programme et Equipements Prioritaires de Recherche (Priority Research Equipment and Programme – PEPR) managed by CEA and INRIA. This research programme will draw on France’s academic research strengths in fields ranging from hardware to software, energy consumption, instigation of new architectures, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, This will be developed in coordination with the other digital strategies launched by the government.
In a press release, Frédérique Vidal, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation stated:
‘The emergence of a French and European Cloud is an essential issue for the digital and technological sovereignty of our country and for the competitiveness of our industry. An unprecedented effort of €1.8 billion, including nearly 100 million for cutting-edge research and training, is mobilised to support the French Cloud industry. By mobilising all our strengths, from research to training, from our start-ups to our companies, this acceleration strategy gives us the means to regain our technological sovereignty in the Cloud.’
Further details regarding this plan can be found on the French government’s website.
(This report was the subject of a ResearchConnect Newsflash.)