France • OSEO
Partner 5: The French Agency for Innovation (OSEO) / France
OSEO, the French Agency for Innovation, provides advice and financial support to SMEs. The Agency supports entrepreneurial and research organisations to tackle the technical, commercial, financial and human challenges of innovation. OSEO is a public body under the authority of the Ministries of Finance, Industry, Small Businesses and Research.
About 1360 SME projects per year are supported by OSEO (previously OSEO anvar) for all the thematic areas from ICT (30%) to life sciences (26%) equipment (17%) consumer goods (10%) and basic industries and building and public works (17%). One-third of the Agency's activities (number of projects and amount of support) is devoted to start-ups (companies less than 3 years old). Companies generally receive support through a conditional loan (reimbursable if the programme is a success), loan guarantees and grants.
OSEO is also the NCP-SME for FP6 to facilitate the development of SME partnerships for FP6 projects, in collaborative or cooperative research as well as integration in IPs.
OSEO

