French grants for businesses, at every growth stage.

The latest published grants and subsidies

Frequently asked questions about French and European public grants

• How much grant funding can a French company with 3 to 10 employees access annually?

  A French company with 3 to 10 employees typically mobilises between €15,000 and €80,000 per year by combining the R&D tax credit (CIR), the Young Innovative Enterprise status (JEI), Bpifrance loans, regional grants and sector-specific schemes. The final amount depends on industry, territory of establishment and project maturity. A personalised diagnostic on Subventions.fr quantifies your eligibility in 60 seconds from your SIRET number.

• What French grants can a foreign company apply for when setting up operations in France?

  Foreign companies establishing a subsidiary, branch or permanent establishment in France can access the full French public funding stack: the R&D tax credit (CIR, 30 % on R&D spend), the Innovation tax credit (CII, 20 % for SMEs), Bpifrance innovation loans, Business France relocation grants, Choose France bonuses for strategic investments, and regional investment subsidies. The Investment Canada Act equivalent in France requires no prior authorisation for most sectors. Our hub dedicated to foreign investors lists every scheme.

• Horizon Europe or French R&D tax credit (CIR): which should my innovative company choose?

  Both are fully combinable. Horizon Europe funds collaborative R&D projects at 70 % to 100 % of eligible costs, with grants typically ranging from €500,000 to €5 million per project, but requires 6 to 18 months of preparation and a pan-European consortium. The French R&D tax credit (CIR) refunds 30 % of domestic R&D expenses up to €100M, is obtained on fiscal declaration and is available to any company without size limit. Most innovative companies use CIR as their baseline and target Horizon Europe for breakthrough flagship projects.

• How long does it take to secure a public grant in France or the EU?

  Timelines depend on the scheme. A French tax credit (CIR, CII) is filed on the corporate tax return and refunded within 6 to 12 months. A regional grant takes on average 3 to 6 months from application to payment. Bpifrance instruments (loans, guarantees) are processed in 4 to 8 weeks. Horizon Europe calls require 9 to 18 months between submission and first payment. Anticipating 6 months is a safe planning horizon for domestic French grants.

• Are French public grants taxable for my company?

  Yes, operating grants are taxable in the year of attribution and enter the taxable income at the standard corporate tax rate. Investment grants (financing a capital asset) can be spread over the depreciation period of the asset. Tax credits (CIR, CII, Innovation tax credit) are offset against corporate tax and are not themselves taxable. Bpifrance repayable instruments (loans, conditional advances) are not taxable; only the interest portion is deductible.

• Grant, Bpifrance loan, tax credit: what’s the difference for my company?

  A grant is a non-repayable public aid paid after validation of an eligible project (typically 20 % to 50 % of project spend). A Bpifrance loan is a repayable financing at reduced rate, usually without personal guarantee, designed for capital expenditure or working capital. A tax credit (CIR, CII) is a fiscal deduction computed a posteriori on eligible expenses, refunded in cash when the company is loss-making. The three instruments are fully stackable within a single financing plan.

• Which French grants are accessible to companies headquartered in another EU member state?

  EU-established companies can access French public funding provided they operate through a permanent establishment or subsidiary on French soil. Horizon Europe, EU cohesion funds (FEDER, ESF+), and Just Transition Fund are directly accessible as European instruments. For domestic French schemes (CIR, Bpifrance, regional grants), a French legal entity or branch is required. Under EU state-aid rules, discrimination by nationality is prohibited within the Single Market.

• How do I check if my company qualifies for French and European public grants?

  Eligibility depends on four main criteria: legal form (SA, SARL, SAS, EURL, branch, association, local authority), territory of establishment (region, department, priority area, EU member state), industry code (NAF / APE / NACE), and project nature (investment, R&D, hiring, exports, green transition). Subventions.fr indexes 11,360 public and private French grants: enter your SIRET to receive in 60 seconds the personalised shortlist of schemes your company can apply for.

Grants and subsidies by region