france at ces 2015

A T C E S 2 0 1 5France

PRESS CONTACT INFORMATION AT CES 2015

PHILIPPE MAZE-SENCIERPress Contact(202) [email protected]

CASEY DOUGLASPress Contact(301) [email protected]

DEVYN MCDONALDPress Contact(336) [email protected]

VALENTIN PELLISSIERPR Advisor Business France+33 (0)6 33 03 31 [email protected]

MARIE GALLAS-AMBLARDHead of CommunicationsLa French Tech+33 (0)6 16 29 33 [email protected]

AN INTRODUCTION

DID YOU KNOW?

Today, the digital economy represents close to 4% of all

French jobs and over 5% of GDP (McKinsey & Company), while over 420,000 companies were

founded in France in 2014.

With a new generation of entrepreneurs, investors, engineers, and designers, a booming startup culture, vibrant tech hubs and a hotbed of talent, France is excited to represent 25 percent of all exhibiting startups at CES 2015.

At CES 2015, France will be the best-represented nation in Europe, with 120 exhibitors from a wide range of sectors, from healthcare to wearable tech, 3D sound and vision systems, to green tech.

Learn more about France and some of our most innovative startup companies inside.

Home to the second largest economy in the EU and the fifth largest economy in the world, France is increasingly at the forefront of the tech industry in Europe.

France ranks in the top 6 countries

in the world and 2nd in Europe

for domestic R&D spending.

With 7 entries, France ranks third in the world after the

US and Japan in the top 100 most innovative organizations,

well ahead of any other European nation (Thomson Reuters, 2013).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

France at CES 2015

France’s Digital Superhighway4

9 French Tech Startup Companies

29 La French Tech

33 Invest in France

40 Key French Officials at CES 2015

France’s Digital Superhighway

5

France at CES 2015

France at CES 2015 6

FRANCE IS A “STARTUP REPUBLIC,” home to vibrant tech hubs and talent imbued with a strong entrepreneurial culture.

I. FRANCE: AN ICT HUB

• In 2013, companies in France producing goods and services in the ICT sector (information technology, internet services and electronic communications) generated revenues of more than $121 billion*.

• With 61 foreign investment decisions in 2013, “software and IT services” was the leading sector for job-creating foreign investment in France. (IFA, 2013 Report)

• The internet broadband penetration rate in France is 37.6% – higher than in other major European countries such as the United Kingdom (35.2%), Germany (34.8%), Spain (26.3%) and Italy (22.3%). (OECD, December 2013)

• Mobile internet penetration rates in France are also high, with 73.9 million cellphone subscribers (113% penetration rate), of which 36.5 million are 3G subscriptions. (ARCEP, 2014)

• With e-commerce turnover totaling $65 billion* in 2013, France was among the six leading countries in the world for online sales in 2013. (French e-commerce and remote sales federation Fevad, 2014)

SOME OF THE COMPANIES MOST INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING FRANCE’S DIGITAL ECONOMY ARE:• Orange, one of the leading telecoms operators in the world.

• Criteo, a global leader in performance display advertising.

• OVH, the second largest web hosting company in Europe.

• Gemalto, world leader in digital security.

FRANCE’S SUCCESS IN INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS

• With 86 of the top 500 fastest growth technology companies based on percentage revenue growth in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, France was once again ranked first in 2014 by the Deloitte “Technology Fast 500 EMEA”.• There are seven French companies or institutions among the 100 most innovative organizations in the world. France is ranked first in Europe. (Thomson Reuters – 2014 Top 100 Global Innovators)

France is ranked second in Europe and sixth in the world for the number of international patents filed. (WIPO, 2013)

FRANCE’S DIGITAL SUPERHIGHWAYThe digital economy in France: a dynamic and buoyant sector

12


II. DYNAMIC DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

France’s excellent digital infrastructure is already in place: its telecommunications networks are recognized to be among the best in the world in terms of quality, availability, efficiency and competitiveness. The power supply in France is also one of the most reliable and efficient in Europe, offering high-quality power at very competitive rates.

• 3G mobile coverage as of July 2014: SFR and Orange cover approximately 99% of the population, Free Mobile 98.5% and Bouygues Telecom 96.5%. (ARCEP, June 2014)

• France is ranked second in Europe for the number of 4G subscribers. (ARCEP, July 2014)

• Total investments in 3G and 4G high-speed mobile in 2013 were estimated to be around $2.1 billion*. (ARCEP, June 2014)

• France is the second largest producer of video games by sales volumes after the United States, particularly in sectors boasting strong growth, such as video games on social networks and smartphones. Several of the world’s largest publishers are French, including Vivendi, Ubisoft and Gameloft. (French Agency for Video Games (AFJV), April 2014)

SELECTED INNOVATION CLUSTERS IN FRANCE

In France, the digital economy is supported by a dynamic network of innovation clusters partnering public- and private-sector research centers, universities and industry:

• CAP DIGITAL focuses on the creation of digital content and its multimedia distribution and exchange. www.capdigital.com/en/

• IMAGES ET RESEAUX (Images and Networks) specializes in communications networks and new digital imaging technologies. www.image-et-reseaux.com/en

• MINALOGIC fosters innovation in the development and production of intelligent miniaturized products and services for industry (micro/nanotechnology and embedded software intelligence). www.minalogic.org

• SCS (Secure Communication Solutions) specializes in the design and development of secure processing and communications solutions integrating devices, software, networks and systems. en.pole-scs.org/

• SYSTEMATIC specializes in complex systems and generic software, electronic and opto-electronic technologies. www.systematic-paris-region.org/en

NUMBER 1

France has more public WiFi hotspots – over 13 million – than any other country in the world (Ipass report, 2014).

France is ranked 1st in Europe and 4th in the world for e-government (E-government survey, UN, 2014).

In 2016, Paris will be home to the world’s biggest tech incubator (1,000 startups in Halle Freyssinet), under the leadership of the French serial technology entrepreneur Xavier Niel. http://1000startsup.fr


III. EFFECTIVE AND CUSTOMIZED SUPPORT FOR THE SUCCESS OF YOUR INVESTMENT

• France’s research tax credit is the best in Europe, covering 30% of all R&D costs up to $122 million, and 5% above this threshold. Since 2013, eligibility has been extended to innovation expenditure by SMEs, and to innovative new companies (JEIs), which can combine the research tax credit with the other corporate/ local tax and social security contribution relief to which they are entitled over an eight-year period.

• Very-High-Speed France Plan

$24 billion being invested to roll out very-high-speed internet by 2022.

100% nationwide coverage by 2022.

Priority given to business parks for the roll-out of fiber-optic connections.

• A key public-private initiative: “La French Tech” (www.lafrenchtech.com), aiming to strengthen digital economy ecosystems and raise the profile of digital startups in France, while also introducing incentives to invest in entrepreneurial ventures. Foreign entrepreneurs and startup will be eligible in 2015 for $36,000 of funding through the “French Tech Ticket” scheme.

• Administrative procedures for businesses are being simplified thanks to a digital first-strategy: France is among the simplest countries in the G20 in which to found a company: only five administrative procedures and seven days are required, compared with a G20 average of 7.6 procedures and 22 days. (EY, European Attractiveness Survey, 2014)

IN THE DIGITAL SECTOR, FRANCE HAS THE THIRD LOWEST EFFECTIVE CORPORATE TAX RATE. (18.5% - SOURCE: KPMG, COMPETITIVE ALTERNATIVES, 2014)


THEY CHOSE FRANCE - TESTIMONIALS

APPNEXUS (United States) – “AppNexus is very excited to be here in France and not just because of the food. We think that it’s a fantastic economic opportunity and we are excited to be here and invest heavily in this country. We expect to really grow here over the next couple of years.” Steve Fitz, Senior Vice-President, Worldwide Field Operations

DORO (Sweden) – “We chose to locate our software development center in France because we were looking for certain skills and highly trained personnel. […] France is a very large, interesting market, and its strategic location enables us to centralize all our European operations here.” Jérôme Arnaud, CEO

WIPRO Ltd (India) – “Setting up operations in France was a logical step forward for Wipro’s growth plan in Europe. […] France has definitely become an open and friendly market for global companies who want to explore business opportunities.” Bas Klein Douwel, Country Head, France

TCL (China) – “Firstly, France is at the heart of the European Union, so being here puts us in a strategic position to serve the European market. Secondly, France’s energy and transport infrastructure is highly developed, and thirdly, its legal structures are transparent and strong. […] French employees are very energetic. They are very adaptable and have a strong ability to innovate.” Li Dongsheng, Chairman and CEO

FREESTYLE INTERACTIVE (United Kingdom) – “[Another reason for coming to France] was to extend our portfolio: increasingly, we are dealing with global clients who work across all international boundaries and so it makes sense for us to try to work with more broader digital European and global companies.” Alan Cooper, CEO

TOSHIBA (Japan) – “France is a good place for R&D, not only for proprietary R&D but especially – and this is now one of Toshiba’s priorities – for R&D through alliances with other local companies to develop an R&D ‘ecosystem’ in France.” Philippe Delahaye, CEO France

GOOGLE (United States) –“We’re obviously delighted to be in France and to work with French engineers who have an excellent reputation around the world.” Elisabeth Barges, Public Policy Manager

FOREIGN ACQUISITIONS OF HIGH-FLYING FRENCH FIRMS:• Neolane by American company Adobe in 2013 ($600 million).

• Arkadin by Japanese company NTT in 2013 ($450 million).

*Numbers calculated based on 2013 average Euro exchange rate.

French Tech Startup Companies at CES 2015

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France at CES 2015

France at CES 2015 11France at CES 2015 11

FRENCH TECH STARTUP COMPANIES AT CES 2015

TechWest, Eureka ParkCOMPANY BOOTH

EtherTrust 75558

Exelium 75486

Glagla International 75677

Green Creative 75664

Holi 75511

Home Detector Sensor Network (HDSN) 75578

HOME TO NATURE 75609

ID-RF 75552

Ionosys 75490

ISET Watch 75691

ISKN Inc 75538

Kolor 75586

LILLUP 75532

MATOOMA 75601

Mediapod 75603

MEG 75662

MOVE N SEE 75674

MxM 75570

My Brain 75580

Mybiody Balance 75666

NOVITACT 75563

Optinvent 75675

Perfect Memory 75485

COMPANY BOOTH

3D Sound Labs 75663

3DRudder 75667

Abeeway 75471

Adways 75706

Akoustic Arts 75689

Arkamys 75584

AV Concept Products 75623

BBRIGHT 75672

BeSpoon 75146

Bidul and Co. 75768

BLEUJOUR 75574

Blinksight 75567

BodyCap 75571

Business France 75671

C. TEXDEV S.A.S. 75573

Catopsys 75489

Cityzen Sciences 75764

Connected Cycle 75669

DAWAQ 75565

Demand Site Instruments 75575

Digital Airways 75569

ELA Innovation 75607

Emiota 75668

COMPANY BOOTH

Photonic 75590

Prynt 75582

ROLLKERS SAS 75762

Sevenhugs 75459

Sezam Labs 75475

Slow Control 75676

Smart Me Up 75673

Smokio 75491

SNAPKIN 75604

SOLEDGE 75665

Soyhuce 75577

TapCards 75487

Tech2innovate 75576

Teqoya 75776

Thelia 75782

TicaTag 75772

Twelve Monkeys Company 75766

Ubiant 75483

Ubithings 75588

Urban Factory 75469

VIRDYS 75606

Voxtok 75605

Weenect 75473

France at CES 2015 12France at CES 2015 12

FRENCH TECH STARTUP COMPANIES AT CES 2015

TechWest, Eureka Park

75706

75623

7553875532

7555275558

75459

75146

7576475766

7576275768

7577275776

7566975671

7567375675

7567775663

75782

7568975691

7566775665

7567275674

75676

7556575567

7556975571

7557375575

7557775563

7566275664

7566675668

7548975487

7548575483

75491

7558475586

7558875590

7558275580

7547175473

7557475576

75578

7547575469

7560175603

7560575607

7560475606

75511

75609

7548675490

Eureka Park / University Innovations

75570


IMAGINE PLAYING AIR GUITAR, and making actual music. Well PHONTONIC is sort of like that. Or, you could see it as a form of karaoke, without the words. Or simply a unique musical experience.

It was developed by a group of musicians, designers, engineers and researchers frustrated by the time it takes to learn an instrument. They set about finding a way to enjoy making music for would-be musicians who can’t play instruments.

Their invention, PHONOTONIC, is so much fun. Solo musicians can control the beat and the melody of a given song with a connected object that tracks the way

they move. The object talks to the app via Bluetooth, and turns these movements into music in real time. Musicians who want to be part of a group can split melody and rhythm on two PHONTONICs – for even greater entertainment.

It’s become more than just a way of making music for amateurs. For example, take the sensor from the object and place it somewhere else – such as in your sock - then rock out. Performers and dancers looking for something fresh adore it.

PHONOTONIC is the fruit of ten years of extensive research at IRCAM, the world leading lab in music and sound technology. The technology was awarded 1st prize at the Margaret Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, an annual event to find the world’s best new ideas in musical instrument design, engineering, and performance held at the Georgia Institute of Technology. It was also exhibited at MoMA, NYC.

PHONOTONIC

Making Music Without Instruments

Nicolas RASAMIMANANA, [email protected]: +33.6.67.92.78.76www.phonotonic.net

CONTACT


FIRST, THEY SET ABOUT making smart glasses better than Google. Now they’ve invented a model that doesn’t make you look like a geek.

ORA-X is the latest product from Optinvent. Designed to be as fashionable as headphones, the ORA-X is an audio headset complete with slim-line retinal projector.

At CES, Optinvent will showcase a mock-up for the first time, alongside a working version of the first product from its ORA range, the ORA-1. Both use patented Clear-Vu display technology for mobile augmented reality (AR) applications. The image is clearer, bigger, brighter and more power-efficient than Google Glass, and more cost effective. The first ORA-X models sold out via a Kickstarter campaign.

The ORA is capable of running a wide range of hands-free wireless applications, from GPS to messaging, and sports applications. If you compare capabilities, Google Glass is a smart watch, ORA is more like a full blown tablet.

The ORA-1 is for professional developers and business customers who don’t mind wearing glasses. Digital information is overlaid on ORA-1 wearers’ vision, and can be watched in two modes: centered directly in your line of sight, or flipped down in your peripheral vision for “info snacking.” In comparison, Google Glass puts all information above your sightline.

Both use a standard version of Android and offer WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. They come equipped with a front-facing camera, and rechargeable batteries.

OPTINVENT

Smart Glasses That Don’t Make You Look Like a Cyborg

Kayvan [email protected] Tel: +33.6.83.15.02.13www.optinvent.com

CONTACT


LIBERATE THE FEET! In the digital era, legs and feet have been relegated to useless appendages hidden under desks. This puts undue strain on hands and fingers, but also denies feet their traditional role in navigation.

A team of passionate 3D and Virtual Reality became obsessed with returning to feet their natural navigation function in the digital world - and establishing a more efficient use of both hands and feet. They invented a device called the 3DRUDDER, a sophisticated feet-controlled 3D navigation and

motion controller that has evolved from experiments with a colander attached to a chopping board. The user rests their feet on a connected device whilst seated, and tilts in the direction he or she wishes to move in the virtual world. A pedal enables the user to move up or down. Hands are free to work with the keyboard, the mouse, or the joystick.

The 3DRUDDER is intuitive – and incredibly precise. By allowing hands and feet to work in harmony, as they do in the ‘real’ world, the 3D world is transformed. The device encourages better posture, and the user is less fatigued.

The 3DRUDDER is specifically designed for the world’s inventors: gamers and 3D professionals (designers, 3D infographists, architects, etc.). But it can be used by anyone who uses a computer and whose hands would appreciate a digital work-share with feet.

3D RUDDER

Bringing Feet into the Digital World

Stanislas CHESNAIS, Co-founder and [email protected]: +33.7.77.95.49.31www.3drudder.com

CONTACT


PREVENTATIVE HEALTH IS A MAJOR FEATURE of the French health system, generally recognized as being one of the best – if not the best – in the world. Regular health check-ups are widely available, normally taking a few hours to complete. They are offered every few years, depending on age and physical condition.

But now, a Parisian start-up has invented a portable and connected body check-up device that can be used by everybody, anytime. It gives users better control over their well-being through an instant and regular assessment of their health.

MYBIODY BALANCE is a slender machine that fits around the ankle. It gives an exact composition of your weight by measuring four key masses in the body: body fat, muscle mass, bone density and hydration. It analyzes these key indicators to give a real-time health check-up.

MYBIODY BALANCE was created through the combined expertise of a creative digital start-up company, BBRC, and a family business specialized in the manufacturing of medical devices, Aminogram.

Regular use allows users to monitor and manage their physical condition. MYBIODY BALANCE helps users to lose weight, or optimize their sporting performance. For the elderly, it provides information that can help them maintain their health in the long-term.

MYBIODY BALANCE

Your Instant Daily Health Checker

François TRABELSI, CEO, BBRC & [email protected]: +33.1.56.90.36.35www.mybiodybalance.com

CONTACT


A FLAWLESS MUSICAL EXPERIENCE is now possible without expensive HiFi devices and cables.

It is provided by Soledge, a French company aiming to take on the highly lucrative market of luxury hi-fi sound systems. Since 2006, the company has been designing equipment for music stored in the cloud. Its patented Tenor technology works on a simple principle – which they call disruptive luxury. Tenor amplifiers, which today sit beside your speakers, enable music to be sent wirelessly to the speakers,

and very soon will be integrated directly in the loudspeakers cabinet. Mono amplifiers can be perfectly synchronized to deliver sound of the purest nature.

In the past, audiophiles rejected this concept because it generates pollution on the grid. Soledge bypassed this problem with an ingenious filter that means it retrieves data direct from the mains power supply, so there is no pollution of the audio signal.

Its technology can transform any speaker into a connected speaker with the finest sound quality. Different playlists can also be enjoyed in different rooms, without interference.

All Soledge devices belong to the Canto range. With it, even the music lover with the most sensitive ears can enjoy a sound as pure as the initial recording.

SOLEDGE

Music As Pure as It was Made, from Any Speaker

Maryam BINI, Marketing [email protected]: +33.4.67.13.01.12 www.soledge.fr

CONTACT


IN SOME CITIES, recycling has become so complicated it feels like you need a degree in waste management to deal with the system. Separating refuse types into bins of varying colors and size for differing collection dates can outfox even the most ardent recycler – meaning more ends up in the general waste bin than needs to.

That is set to change thanks to GREEN CREATIVE, a cleantech startup that wants to make us all better recyclers by simplifying the separation process.

Founders Lucile Noury and Rémi Gomez, two mechanical engineers from the French Arts-et-Métiers school, will present two products at CES 2015.

The Flexidry range for industrial waste and unsold goods in the agrifood and cosmetics industries uses patented technologies to separate products from their containers. The process increases the value extracted from waste products in a low-cost, energy efficient manner.

The second is R3D3, a smart and connected trash can that is capable of separating consumer beverage waste such as cans, bottles and plastic cups.

Both have received numerous awards, including the prestigious French Design Observer Label in 2013 and the C77 Design Award.

GREEN CREATIVE

Smart Trash Cans Recycle Better

Lucile NOURY, Pré[email protected]: +33.7.86.04.64.04www.green-creative.fr

CONTACT


HOW CAN YOU GET an instant copy of that selfie you just snapped? Simple: just PRYNT it.

PRYNT turns your iPhone or Android into an instant camera in three easy steps. First, slot your smartphone into an elegantly designed PRYNT case. Second, snap any picture of your choice – or select an image from

your phone or social networks that you wish to print. Finally, with a simple click, you can instantly get a printed picture without the need for a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection.

A Prynt case only requires special paper to work: there is no Ink cartridge inside the device. The final version is expected to take 30 seconds to print and hold up to 10 sheets when a full battery will allow you to print up to 30 pictures.

But as well as printing beautiful pictures, PRYNT also brings your photos to life with short movies. So how do you PRYNT videos?

An augmented reality feature of the camera app means that when you take a photo via the PRYNT app, it records a short video of the moment which is stored in the cloud. If you – or anyone you send it to - hold the physical photo to the phone’s camera, a play button appears on your phone. Press it to see the video and relive the moment.

Prynt is set to launch pre-orders in January 2015, for $99 (USD).

PRYNT

Instant Camera for the 21st Century

Clément PERROT, CEO [email protected]: +33.7.82.08.21.68www.pryntcases.com

CONTACT


HUMANS AUTOMATICALLY MAKE a range of assumptions about a person just by looking at their face: how friendly they are; whether they’ve had a bad day; or in regard to their intentions.

Problem is that cameras nowadays are not able to make any such human assumptions.

Enter SMART ME UP, a young start-up from southeast France, which has developed a more systematic way of analyzing the information we provide on our faces.

From a video stream, its’ real-time face analysis technology can detect faces and estimate characteristics such as age, gender, smile, fatigue, head position, or iris position. Results are surprisingly accurate – and its algorithms work on any type of camera or processor.

The technology can be purchased in two ways. It can be embedded directly in products from phones to cars to security cameras. From 2015, it will also be offered via cloud services: a client sends video stream to SMART ME UP servers, which analyze the pictures and return processed data.

The company provides services such as identity photo conformity, and anticipates a wide number of applications, from the real-time customer analysis for retailers to drowsiness detectors for motorists.

SMART ME UP

Real-Time Face Analysis Technology

Matthieu MARQUENET, [email protected]: +33.6.33.10.16.55www.smartmeup.org

CONTACT


LEARNING HOW TO DE-STRESS is a bit like learning to play tennis: it’s about brain reflexes. Problem is, although there are plenty of drugs available designed to curb stress, there aren’t many de-stress coaches who can teach us to manage our stress for ourselves.

Sure, there are plenty ways of reducing stress in the short term: playing sport, taking a bath, having a massage, for example. But although they might make us feel better in the short term, they do little to help with stress in the long term.

Enter myBrain Technologies, a company that works with medical researchers to provide the latest neuro technologies for everyone. Closely linked with the medical and research communities, myBrain Technologies develops real-time evaluation tools of human mental states by measuring brain activity.

Its first product, MYBRAIN RELAX, uses connected devices to measure brain activity and was developed in collaboration with the Brain and Spine Institute at the storied Pitié-Salpetrière Hospital in Paris.

Information is collected from and relayed to the user via a helmet that emits music which correlates to their human mental state. Regular use – for example 15 minutes per day – allows the user to learn to control the music – and thus their brain activity and stress levels for themselves.

As with tennis, the process becomes intuitively hard-wired into our bodies, and eventually there is no need for the helmet.

For those who wish to test the process, myBrain Technologies is holding a public relaxation competition at CES 2015. It is open to anyone, so be brave and show up!

MYBRAIN TECHNOLOGIES

Train Your Brain to Relax

Thibaud DUMAS, Co-founder [email protected]: +33.6.29.97.30.75www.mybraintech.com

CONTACT


LIKE A DJ, only smarter. PRIZM collects insights about your music listening tastes and habits, but what it does with that information will definitely change the way you enjoy music at home.

At the touch of a button, Prizm automatically plays the perfect song on your speakers. It understands in which context you like specific music. If you like to wake up to Rock in the morning and go to sleep with Jazz, that’s what you’ll get. The same way, Prizm learns when you want to discover new songs or hear your own library.

Thanks to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals from phones or wearables and a sound level sensor, PRIZM can tell

who is in the room and what the current atmosphere is. If some of those persons are known to PRIZM, it will select music that everyone will love. PRIZM is also capable of interpreting the ambience in the room. If there are lots of people moving around, it will select something up-tempo - assuming that’s what you like.

Designed to be simple to use, it’s smartphone-free and computer-free. All you need to do is press play and the music starts, streamed directly from the cloud. Or, if you prefer, it will activate when you enter the room.

It also shares its insights. If PRIZM plays a new song you like, touch the heart button on the side to add the song directly to you own playlists on Spotify, Soundcloud, Deezer.

No need to buy another speaker. You probably already have a great sound system that fits your needs, and PRIZM will happily work with it.

PRIZM was funded on Kickstarter.

PRIZM

Nest for Music.

Pierre GOCHGARIAN, [email protected]: +33.6.13.73.66.94www.meetprizm.com

CONTACT


IN 2012, MOVE ’N SEE introduced the world’s first robot cameraman for outdoor sports. He is capable of capturing the action of any sportsman wearing a tag – surfers, football players, riders – even zooming automatically when necessary.

This robot is very successful popular for outdoor sports, where GPS technology enabled him to know the position of the moving object he was shooting. Sadly, for indoor sports - where GPS doesn’t work - he was ineffective.

Now all indoor athletes have a solution. She is called PIXIO, and because she uses radar technology, she can film both inside and outdoors. Just like her predecessor, she can automatically track, zoom in and out, and film 360°. She is capable of filming several athletes, so long as they have turned their watch tags on. It is that simple!

MOVE ’N SEE expects a healthy demand for PIXIO given that there are seven times as many indoor sports as outdoor. Around 65% of the population practices one sport at least once a week, and video is becoming an increasingly common way of sharing experiences with friends and family. Video is also a must have tool for training and performance improvement.

PIXIO will be demonstrated at CES 2015 for the first time.

MOVE ‘N SEE

Indoor Robot Cameras

Stéphane MOTTE, Sales & Marketing [email protected]

CONTACT


THE HIGHEST PICTURE QUALITY is now achievable with the lowest transmission bit rate thanks to HEVC compression appliance developed in France.

BBRIGHT offers the best UltraHD picture quality available on the market today, while reducing the bandwidth requirements – and operational costs – for its customers. This means that sensational and immersive live events on UltraHD 4k resolution televisions are now more affordable than ever.

BBRIGHT is a young start-up focused on high-end technologies for TV channels, network operators, content owners professionals such as 4K/UltraHD and HEVC compression, multiscreen viewing, or video streaming via the Internet through OTT services.

Its HEVC compression technology is optimized for real-time applications and is based on open-source software (x265 project funded by BBRIGHT and others), ensuring maximum interoperability with all types of decoders. These allows the widest compatibility for real-time video compression services for broadcast applications or live streaming. BBRIGHT is introducing a brand new product at CES 2015.

SLED-HD is a state of the art real-time H.265/HEVC encoder for professional applications such as live broadcast, OTT and IPTV. Its encoding technology helps operators to save up to 50% of network bandwidth without compromising video quality. SLED-HD will enlarge BBRIGHT’s product line, which already includes UltraHD video encoders and players (SLED-4K and UHD-Play).

BBRIGHT

The Best Picture Quality for Lower Bandwidth – Yes, We Can!

Laurent APPERCEL, Senior Marketing [email protected]: +33.2.99.12.17.65www.bbright.com

CONTACT


FOR CENTURIES, belts have served various functions, from holding up your trousers to making your waist look pretty.

BELTY, however, is a belt capable of much more. For a start, it adjusts throughout the day, loosening when its wearer sits down, or tightening comfortably around the waist when they stand.

It is also capable of communicating with its wearer, for example about his or her health. Over time, it measures the progression of abdominal fat, alerting its wearer to cardiovascular risk or the onset of pre-diabetes.

Designers deliberately didn’t fit a screen. Instead, the belt can move and vibrate to communicate.

BELTY can also connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth if necessary, to allow its wearer to view encrypted information and history.

It’s the first product from Emiota, a maker of high-end fashion accessories that combine luxury and technology.

EMIOTA

Reinventing the belt.

Carine COULM, General [email protected] Tel: +33.7.81.18.97.38www.emiota.com

CONTACT


NEW MUMS AND DADS need all the help they can get.That’s particularly true when your beautiful baby wakes hungry at 3 am, and you struggle out of bed, eyes bleary.

Preparing infant formula requires every last brain cell. You sit down with baby Jo propped up in your arms. He takes the bottle – what relief! You sit back and let him drink. A few hours later, he lets you know he’s ingested a lot of air with that bottle. You sigh, and pull yourself back out of bed.

That was until the intelligent bottle holder by SLOW CONTROL, which will be presented at CES for the first time. The smart baby bottle holder helps you track how much and how fast baby is drinking. It gives you feedbacks on how to hold properly the bottle so your baby wouldn’t swallow air and let you know if a lump is clogging the bottle.

With the mobile application, parents have an effective tool that provides remote and real-time consumption data of their infants.

Knowing precisely how to feed your baby improves significantly his chance of being healthy and growing up in the best conditions. Reflux, colic and diarrhea risks are limited. Your baby sleeps better, and so do you !

SLOW CONTROL’s mission is to create products for monitoring eating behavior which help people eat more slowly in order to have a better health. Its first product, the intelligent fork HAPIfork (10SFork in Europe), , vibrates to alert the user that he or she is eating too fast. In 2013, it was awarded the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013 Innovations Award, was a finalist in the Best of CES 2013 by CNET, and was voted Best Gadget of CES by PCMag.

SLOW CONTROL

The Smart Baby Bottle

Jacques LEPINE, President [email protected]: +33.6.93.92.32www.slowcontrol.com

CONTACT


INTRODUCING THE WORLD’S FIRST smart 3D sound headphones.

3D SOUND LABS wanted to create the most immersive wearable sound experience, for everybody, everywhere.

So they created a 3D audio world of cinematic sound quality available in the small, intimate space of the headphone, including real-time head tracking and advanced audio processing.

This head-turning sound innovation will be debuted – and demonstrated – for the first time at CES:

CES Unveiled: Mandalay Bay, Level 3, South Seas Ballroom C from 4pm to 7pm January 4th, 2015

CES: The Venetian, Eureka Park TechZone, Booth 75663 January 6th to the 9th, 2015

Come and experience a new world of sound!

3D SOUND LABS

360° of Sound in a Headphone

Maxime SABAHEC, Marketing [email protected] : +33.6.25.15.11.87www.3dsoundlabs.com

CONTACT


DIGITSOLE is the first connected and interactive insole that keeps your feet warm no matter how cold it is.

The connected insole is designed to fit into just about any shoe, and features a rechargeable battery which can last up to seven hours of heavy use. You set the temperature via your smartphone.

Through the companion app, available to both Android and iOS users, you can warm your feet to a desired temperature, track how many steps you take during the day, check the calories burned, the distance walked as well as your current altitude.

A cushion section at the back of the insole softens shock and spreads vibrations, a ‘flex zone’ allows for optimum natural movement, and arch support provides balance.

Makers Glagla International will present their first collection of connected shoes at CES.

GLAGLA

An End to Frozen Toes and Chilblains!

Karim OUMNIA, [email protected]: +33.7.77.23.84.16 www.glaglashoes.com

CONTACT


COUNTLESS GARDENING ENTHUSIASTS swear that talking to plants helps them grow. But few risk the total derision that would come from suggestions that plants want to communicate with us.

That was until MEG GEM, a sensor capable of decoding the messages that are constantly emitted by plants into information that people can understand.

Plants analyze their environment, reacting to light, temperature, and pollution by producing electrical impulses. MEG GEM sensors placed directly on the plant pick up these low electrical impulses.

Once decoded, the information provides a better understanding of plants – allowing us

to take care of them better, with appropriate light, shade and water.

The MEG GEM also provides information about the environment we both share. City planners, for example, could place MEG GEMs on trees in different locations, providing reliable information on air quality and pollution.

There are two types of MEG GEM in development: one from houseplants, and one for trees. It follows the connected and intelligent flowerpot presented by MEG – which stands for Mind Every Garden – at CES 2015.

MEG

Decoding What Plants Are Saying

Anaïs BAMDAD, Marketing [email protected]: +33.1.80.48.67.71 www.meg-live.com

CONTACT


IT IS NO ORDINARY bike pedal.

Designed by urban cycling specialists CONNECTED CYCLE, the pedal automatically records the speed, route, elevation and calories burnt.

It monitors cycle performance without the need for using a smartphone data connection , and doesn’t even require a battery - which means no charging. Data reports are available via the CONNECTED CYCLE smartphone app, or through Apple’s HealthKit app or the Google Fit platform.

Installation is straightforward and doesn’t require any mechanical skills.

What’s more, the CONNECTED CYCLE smartphone application can help you locate your bike, and will instantly notify you in the event of a theft attempt.

The pedal will be unveiled at International CES in Las Vegas, January 6 - 9, 2015

CONNECTED CYCLE

Why Bike Thieves Can’t Pedal Far

Jean-Marie DEBBASCH, [email protected]. : +33.6.60.31.05.66http://connectedcyle.com

CONTACT


PUT A TEAM of digital sound specialists together with a group of image-stitching pioneers, and what do you have? A totally immersive 360° video and sound experience.

Two French companies, ARKAMYS and KOLOR, have combined their 3D expertise for CES 2015 (complete with virtual reality googles). Come and experience the new video and sound 360° concept for yourselves!

ARKAMYS was formed by a team of acoustic researchers, sound engineers, and composers who met at the legendary Château d’Hérouville studio, near Paris, where the Bee Gees, David Bowie, and Pink Floyd recorded - and which inspired Elton John’s album “Honky Chateau”. The crystal-clear, natural and immersive audio quality

has made ARKAMYS technology a favorite in the movie business and automotive industry, as well as consumer electronics.

Meanwhile, software developer KOLOR was formed in the Savoie region of Southeast France by two engineers with passion for photography and gaming. The company is a pioneer in image-stitching and interactive virtual tours, with a passion for innovation.

Together, they will be making 360° magic in Las Vegas!

ARKAMYS AND KOLOR

360° Video and Sound Experience

Mikael BRETON, Product [email protected]: +33.1.58.59.29.68www.arkamys.com

Alexandre JENNY, [email protected]

CONTACT

La French Tech

32

France at CES 2015


LEARN MORE

La French TechWHAT IS LA FRENCH TECH ?

Today, France is shifting into high gear to take advantage of the digital revolution. The name of this movement is “La French Tech” – a name that speaks to our ambition and our collective excitement.

La French Tech encompasses a generation of forward-looking entrepreneurs who think globally but who are attached to their roots. It is a way of life, a way of doing business. La French Tech is about French savoir-faire.

La French Tech is the standard-bearer for French digital stakeholders and communities abroad. Grouped beneath the French Tech umbrella, they can achieve enough critical mass to be seen as a global force to be reckoned with. It will then be up to each player to convert strengths into market share.

La French Tech is a shared effort by French businesses and by the French government which supports them.

A COMMON CAUSE FOR LA FRENCH TECH ?

La French Tech is a standard borne by both French entrepreneurs and the Government that supports them. It is therefore a collective effort, a shared ambition, a common strategy built with all the stakeholders.

• 1st goal : accelerate growth among French digital startups, going from “start” to “up” in order to create world players.

• 2nd goal : establish French startups on the international market. The world is the natural scale for digital business; our startups need rapid access to this market in favorable conditions.

• 3rd goal : attract international talent and investors to fructify our own field, i.e. stimulate our economy, stimulate employment, and stimulate

the country. French Tech will boost France and the digital ecosystems established in French cities.

With its French Tech, France has all the makings of a world-class “Startup Republic”!

Principle of the French Tech: French Tech is not governed by the French State but it is supported by it.

It’s not the French Government that decides what technology or idea will change the world. It’s up to companies and the market to do this. And it’s up to the Government to enable these world-changing technologies and ideas to flourish.

How ? By leveraging French ecosystems through :

• a dedicated “French Tech Cities” label awarded to cities that have developed strong digital ecosystems, meeting the needs of French startups, investors and foreign talent. All over France, there are already ecosystems up and running;

• a $245 million investment budget to support “startup development acceleration programmes” based on services for French Tech startups, stimulating growth by offering all sorts of resources (mentoring, funding, recruitment, industrial resources, market access, etc.);

• $18 million funding to support initiatives that embellish the profile of French Tech abroad;

• a dedicated team, “Mission French Tech”. The Digital Economy ministry will lead Mission French Tech in collaboration with relevant public and private sector operators including government departments (competitiveness, industry, treasury), Caisse des Dépôts (state-owned investment fund), Bpifrance (public investment bank which supports SMEs), Ubifrance (French trade commission), and promotional agency Invest in France.


THE FRENCH TECH WELCOME PACK FOR FOREIGN STARTUPS WILLING TO SET UP IN FRANCE

• Financial support for selected foreign startups projects.

• A single contact at the French Tech Help Desk for advice, assistance and logistical support.

• Tailored support to help the foreign startups development through French Tech accelerators.

• Four-year renewable visas for skilled professionals and their families and a shortened and simplified administrative process to obtain working visas.

• A circulation visa for five years through a simplified administrative procedure for talented foreigners who do not wish to settle in France but who want to come on a regular basis.

LA FRENCH TECH AT CES 2014

• 90 French exhibitors

• 38 French startups within the Eureka Park

• Netatmo (Fred Potter), Withings (Eric Carreel) and Sens.se (Rafi Haladijan) received the CES Best Innovation Award. Out of the 70 innovations said to mark 2014, 10 were French.

• 5 Innovation Awards: Giroptic and its 360cam, Citizen Sciences and its D Shirt, Withings and its Activity Watch and its Withings Home, as well as two young startups called Lima and Voxtok.

LA FRENCH TECH AT CES 2015

120 French exhibitors (+33% from the last CES)

• Big French companies achieving their digital transformation : La Poste, L’Oreal, Pernod Ricard…

• Big startups : Withings, Netatmo, Sen.se, etc.

• In the Eureka Park : 66 French startups (they represent 25% of the startups exhibiting at Eureka Park) and a French Tech boot set up by Ubifrance which will feature 18 startups.

At the CES 2015, France will be the best represented nation in Europe far ahead of the UK and Germany and the fifth in the world (behind China, the USA, Taiwan and South Korea).

France ranks second behind the US in Eureka Park with 25% of all exhibiting startups. Unlike China which will be poorly represented at Eureka Park. Exhibiting French startups at CES have grown by 73 percent, from 38 in 2014 to 66 in 2015.

FACTS:

• The digital economy accounts for 3.7% of French jobs, 5.2% of GDP and 7.9% of total private-sector value added and more than a quarter of private-sector R&D activity (source: AFII)

• The largest incubator in the world, Halle Freyssinet, will host more than 1,000 startups by 2016

• $980 million of Tax exemptions for 4,500 Young Innovative Enterprises (since 2004)

• $740 million of Regional Innovation Subsidies (2012)

• 500 fundraising actions per year

• $6 billion per year of the 2001 Research Tax Credit for 20,000 businesses (SMEs – 88%)

• $740 million for the European Innovation Grants (2012)

• $860 million worth of Bpifrance subsidies & loans (2012)

• $550 million worth of Private equity investments

PRO-BUSINESS STRUCTURAL REFORMS

Since May 2012, President Hollande and his government have made supporting innovation and startups a priority. The government’s coherent policies are built around a number of different approaches:

France’s “National Pact for Growth, Competitiveness and Employment”

• Introduction of an innovation tax credit

• 2% for innovative public procurement (totalling $122 billion)

“Assises de l’entrepreneuriat” entrepreneurship round table


• Reformed capital gains rules

• Entrepreneurs will no longer be blacklisted for single business failures

• Innovation costs now eligible in “Innovative new company” (JEI) applications

“A new deal for innovation”

• Cohesive government policy for innovation and startups (40 measures)

• New $610 million “Large Venture” fund for venture capital injections

• Financing support for industry (venture capital and business angles)

• New $290 million National Innovation Fund to support the development of enterprise culture and non-technological innovation (design, marketing, etc.).

“The French Tech initiative”

• $260 million in support to accelerate the growth of digital startups

• Policies to make the digital economy a key part of France’s investment attractiveness

“World Innovation Challenge”

• An international competition prioritizing foreign startups setting up business in France

• Seven sector-based priorities, set by the Lauvergeon “Innovation 2030” Commission; $367 million to finance innovative projects in these sectors.

Other measures, including the

• Creation of “entrepreneur scholarships” for those who require financial assistance, to encourage diversity of ideas and people

• An entrepreneur visa

• Coaching for SMEs from INPI, the National Institute of Industrial Property

• Dataconnexions competitions to encourage new, innovative uses for open data

Invest in France

36

France at CES 2015


ATTRACTIVE TO INVESTORS

75% of foreign investors considered France to be attractive for R&D/ innovation investment (TNS-Sofres-AFII, 2014). France’s attractiveness for inward R&D investment is principally due to its proximity to markets (cited by 77% of respondents) and the quality of R&D personnel (cited by 75% of respondents). Partnerships with public-sector research laboratories and the proximity of innovation clusters were also cited by more than 70% of respondents.

A MAJOR PLAYER

With a gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) of $55 billion (PPP) in 2012, France was ranked sixth in the world, after the United States, China, Japan, Germany and South Korea.

HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCHERS

Nearly 1,300,000 engineers, more than 100,000 researchers and more than 400,000 R&D personnel (FTE). Researchers are well represented –with 9.2 researchers per 1,000 members of the labor force in 2011, France was ranked fourth, ahead of Germany (8.2) and the United Kingdom (8.3). In France, Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST) accounted for more than 35% of total employment in 2012 (37.2% in the United Kingdom and 38.5% in Germany).

TAX ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO INNOVATION

Since the reform of the research tax credit in 2008, France has been the country that offers businesses the most generous R&D tax treatment. In 2012, 20,441 companies benefited from France’s research tax credit, of which around 2,000 were foreign companies established in France. Since 2004, there have been $987 million in tax exemptions for 4,500 Young Innovative Enterprises.

INVEST IN FRANCEOverview

BEST Infrastructure in Europe (KPMG 2014)

13 Foreign investment decisions made in France every week

100% of France to have high-speed broadband by 2020


R&D INVESTMENTS INCREASE

The number of foreign investment projects in R&D, engineering and design rose sharply in 2013 to 77 investment decisions, up from 58 in 2012. R&D, engineering and design accounted for 11% of all foreign investment decisions in 2013, generating 7% of all jobs created in France by foreign investors (IFA Data). The German firm Bertrandt aG, which develops integrated solutions for the automotive and aerospace industries, decided to set up a R&D center in Toulouse, employing 60 people. Samsung Electronics decided to recruit 110 additional R&D personnel at its site in the Sophia Antipolis technology park (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region). R&D at foreign subsidiaries in France accounts for 28% of all business enterprise R&D expenditure (BERD) in France.

“LA FRENCH TECH” SUPPORTS THE GROWTH OF THEIR STARTUP AND DIGITAL COMPANIES

Accelerator programs: $245 million invested in private-sector initiatives to help digital companies grow faster and succeed internationally. International investment attractiveness: $18 million to support fab labs and attract foreign talent, entrepreneurs and investors. This French Tech initiative aims to boost the image and attractiveness of France’s digital ecosystem by rallying its regional ecosystems to promote the growth of digital startups and companies. Of the 39% of decision-makers who were aware of it, 90% indicated that the French ecosystem encouraged innovation.

INNOVATION CLUSTERSFrance’s 71 innovation clusters, of which 18 are world-class, are attractive ecosystems for foreign investors. In 2012, 606 foreign-owned companies belonged to innovation clusters. According to the TNS-Sofres survey, 91% of those polled say that France’s innovation clusters were a factor in their company’s decision to set up R&D operations in the country.

MOST Business startups in Europe

(EUROSTAT, 2014)

31 French companies among the world’s top 500.

(Fortune Global 500, 2014)

$36 BILLION Reduction in labor costs.


FRANCE IS A LEADING DIGITAL MARKET

• Telecommunications networks among the best in the world: National average broadband download speed of 31 Mbps (Paris: 78.7 Mbps; Palo Alto: 42.7 Mbps).

• Very high speed internet plan: $24 billion being invested to roll out very high speed internet throughout France. 100% national coverage to be achieved by 2022.

• Large domestic market. Mobile market is the second largest in the EU with 77 million users; a market worth $20 billion. E-commerce in France: US$35 billion.

• Extensive coverage: Broadband subscriber rate of more than 37% in 2013, ahead of the United States and Japan (29% and 28%, respectively). In 2013, 68% of Mobile Network Operators in France offered 4G services on LTE networks compared to 59% in the EU.

• Future proof: The French government is investing $552 million to encourage the advancement and utilization of digital technology.

• Open data: In e-administration , France is the leading country in Europe and fourth in the world. For open-data, France is ranked third in the world (E-government survey, United Nations).

• Latest version of the Internet Protocol: Ranked third globally for the deployment of IPv6 technology. French IPv6 deployment ratio globally averaged 30% in June 2014. (Cisco report).

• Strong uptake of DSL (digital subscriber line) technology: France ranks second (with 58%) for percentage of internet subscribers with higher speed internet (xDSL) after the United Kingdom (59%) (Cisco report).

• Public access: France has more public wi-fi hotspots (over 13 million) than any other country in the world (Ipass report 2014).

$24 BILLION/YEAR Tax savings for buisnesses

$51 BILLION BPI France local business lending service

$57 BILLION “National Investment Program” for strategic sectors

$


FRANCE IS STARTUP FRIENDLY

• Large presence: Most business startups in Europe (420,000 companies created in 2014) (Eurostat).

• Speed of setup: In 2014, only 4.5 days were required to found a company in France, compared to 6 days in the UK and 14.5 in Germany (Doing Business, World Bank).

• Cost competitive: Business startup costs for procedures (% of GNI per capita) is 0.9 in France compared to 1.2 in the US and 8.8 in Germany (where it significantly increased in the last few years). It has remained stable in France (Doing Business, World Bank).

• Ambition: The largest digital business incubator in the world, Halle Freyssinet, will house more than 1,000 startups by 2016. Paris alone is home to 4,000+ tech startups with 100,000 sq. m. of co-working spaces. There are more than 50 private accelerator programs in Paris and “French Tech Cities.”

• Funding: Experienced and entrepreneur-friendly investors ensure a solid seed-funding and venture capital (VC) ecosystem. France is first in the EU for venture capital investment for startups with $490 million invested compared to $453 million in Germany and $349 million in the United Kingdom (Eurostat). France is the second largest VC ecosystem in Europe ($1.2 billion in 2013).

• Pro-active public policies at all levels: At the national level, President Hollande’s government has made startups a priority with a cohesive policy (40 measures). Measures include a fiscal freeze for all tax measures supporting innovation, entrepreneur visa and a crowdfunding law allowing startups to raise up to a little more than $1 million.

• A special tax status for accredited new innovative companies: A full exemption from tax on profits is available for accredited companies, as well as exemptions from employer payroll taxes and social security contributions, up to a specific threshold, and exemption from property tax / local business tax. Since 2004, there have been over $900 million of tax exemptions for 4,500 Young Innovative Enterprises.

• Financial support: Numerous government incentives and subsidies to launch new ventures:

• “French Tech” grant of $36,000 to launch a new venture

• Over $200 million French Tech Acceleration fund for Startup accelerator program

• Over $600 million “Large Venture” fund for venture capital injections

• Over $700 million of Regional Innovation Subsidies (2012)

• Over $700 million for the European Innovation Grants (2012)

• Over $80 million worth of Bpifrance subsidies & loans (2012)

• Simplified legislative environment: The French government has simplified administrative procedures and legislative or regulatory standards. This reduces the number of tax, accounting and publishing obligations for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and microbusinesses.

• Research friendly: R&D tax credit scheme covers 30% of all R&D expenses up to $122 million, and 5% above this threshold.


FRANCE IS A NATION OF ENTREPRENEURS

• Desire: 37% of all French people expressed the desire to create their own business. (Source: Viavoice, October 2014). More than 420,000 companies were founded in France in 2014, including 220,000 under the “auto-entrepreneur” status (INSEE).

• Dynamic market for net business increases. The net variation in active enterprises rose at a compound average of 4.5% between 2007 and 2011, a similar increase to that found in leading emerging economies. (580, 000 enterprises in France comparted to approximately 50,000 in the United Kingdom and Germany (RSM International). Paris alone is home to 4,000+ tech startups.

• French tech role models:

⋅ Xavier Niel: founder of internet service provider Free and “School 42,” a new programming schoolwith a unique model of entirely free and peer-to-peer pedagogy.

⋅ Pierre Kosciusko-Morizet: set up the popular PriceMinister website, a rival to Amazon in France.

⋅ Jacques-Antoine Granjon: Founded the online designer brand retailer vente-privee.com, an international hit.

• Proven success: In McKinsey’s top 250 internet-related firms database, there are many French firms, including: Alcatel-Lucent, Cap Gemini S.A., Atos Origin S.A., Dassault Systemes SA, France Telecom, Gemato, Group Bull SA, Groupe Steria SCA, Illad SA andVivendi (2011 McKinsey report – Impact of the internet on the French economy).

• Innovative: With no fewer than 86 high-flying technology firms in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2014 list, France remains the leading source of companies for the fourth year in a row, followed by the United Kingdom, Benelux, and Sweden. France is third in the world’s top 100 most innovative companies of Thomson Reuters, with 7 of the most innovative groups in 2013.

• The world’s most generous R&D tax incentives: Offered by France to companies through its tax credit scheme covering 30% of R&D spending up to $122 million.

• France fosters enterprise and helps business to expand: Introduction of an “innovative new company” (JEI) status. France’s Public Investment Bank, “bpifrance,” offers companies, particularly innovative SMEs and mid-size companies, a tailored funding service thanks to a wider palette of financial instruments and advice, to support companies at every stage of their development. A second phase of the “National Investment Program” has also been launched, supported by additional funds of $14 billion.

• Key players

⋅ Five French firms listed on the Nasdaq: Edap, Flamel Technologies, Criteo, Sanofi, LDR.

⋅ Latest IPO: DBV (October 2014, $1 billion valuation).

⋅ BlablaCar: $100 million raised (Accel Partners, Index).

⋅ Three French startups at the Y Combinator Winter 2014 batch, 17 French founders of Y Combinator US companies.

⋅ Wit-AI: Founded by three French entrepreneurs, backed by Andreessen-Horowitz in Q3 2014.

⋅ Acquired French companies: Neolane (Adobe, $600 million) and Arkadin (NTT, $450 million).

⋅ Renaud Laplanche (Lending Club) and Solomon Hykes (Docker): Successful French entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley.


FRANCE IS THE FIFTH LARGEST GLOBAL ECONOMY, LOCATED AT THE HEART OF EUROPE The largest single market in the world: with its high-quality infrastructures, France provides an ideal base to access European markets, the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East. With its overseas territories, it has a presence in all the world’s oceans.

• The second largest exclusive economic zone in the world (11 million sq. km) after the United States

• The second largest market in Europe with a population of over 65 million (Eurostat, 2014)

• France’s population is expected to exceed that of Germany as of 2045, topping 73 million (OFCE, 2012)

• Paris-Le Bourget, Europe’s leading airport (ADP, 2013)

• The largest road network in Europe (Eurostat, 2013)

• The port of Marseille is the largest in France and in the Mediterranean by tonnage

• The fourth lowest carbon emissions relative to GDP in the world; a smaller carbon footprint than other European countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom (IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, 2014)

COMPETITIVE BUSINESS COSTS.

According to the KPMG report “Competitive Alternatives”, France is ranked fifth out of 10 countries in 2014.

• The second leading country in the world for the quality, availability and accessibility of its electricity supply (KPMG and Institut Choiseul, 2014)

• The cost of renting office space is lower in Marseille and Lyon than in Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Madrid. Costs in Paris are lower than in London’s West End. (Cushman & Wakefield, 2014)

FRANCE MEETS EVERY REQUIREMENTFOR THE SUCCESS OF YOUR INVESTMENT

2 IN 3 Foreign companies in France make further investments

PARIS SACLAY in the top 8 clusters worldwide. (MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW, 2013)


A PREFERRED DESTINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS

Since 2002, more than 7,500 new investments in France have created more than 350,000 jobs. On average, 13 foreign investment decisions are recorded every week.

• The leading country in Europe for foreign investment in industry (EY 2014)

• Over 20,000 foreign companies doing business in France, employing nearly 2 million people (INSEE, 2012)

• More than 30% of French exports are made by foreign companies

• Foreign investors hold approximately 47% of equity holdings in companies listed on the CAC 40 (Banque de France, 2014)

• Ranked third in the world for attracting foreign students (Campus France, 2014)

STRONG DEMOGRAPHICS IN AN ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENT

• The third leading fertility rate in Europe (Eurostat 2013)

• The leading destination in the world for foreign tourists


FRANCE IS A HOTBED FOR INNOVATION and technological excellence. The presence of highly qualified researchers, the availability of expertise and a very conducive research environment have convinced large numbers of foreign companies that are responsible for nearly 30% of all business enterprise R&D expenditure in France.

• France is ranked first in Europe for corporate tax rates on R&D operations (KPMG, 2014)

• Foreign entrepreneurs and startups are eligible for $36,500 of funding through the “French Tech Ticket” program

• France is ranked second in Europe and sixth in the world for the number of international patents filed (WIPO, 2013)

• 12 out of 55 Fields Medals awarded to French researchers

FRANCE INVESTS MORE IN ITS EDUCATION SYSTEM (6% of GDP) than many of its European neighbors, including Germany, Italy and Spain.

• France is ranked third in the EU for the number of students in second-stage tertiary education leading to an advanced research qualification (Eurostat 2014)

• 18 French establishments in the global rankings of the 70 best Management Master’s degree programs, including two in the top three (HEC and ESSEC): France is ranked first in Europe (Financial Times, Masters in Management, 2014)

FRANCE IS NOT ONLY RANKED SIXTH IN THE WORLD FOR HOURLY LABOR PRODUCTIVITY, ahead of Germany and the United Kingdom (The Conference Board, 2014), it also boasts lower gross labor costs (on average per employee) than in Japan, the United States and Germany (KPMG, Competitive Alternatives, 2014). Moreover, the working week in France is comparable to the European average.

• French employees work 36.2 hours per week on average (Eurostat, 2014)

• Managers work 44 hours per week on average (Eurostat, 2014)

A RICH TALENT POOLFOR YOUR INVESTMENT


TAX RELIEF. THE COMPETITIVENESS AND EMPLOYMENT TAX CREDIT (CICE) is boosting the competitiveness of businesses through a corporate tax saving in 2014 equivalent to 6% of gross payroll costs, excluding salaries higher than 2.5 times the statutory national minimum wage.

France’s research tax credit is the best in Europe, covering 30% of all R&D costs up to $122 million, and 5% above this threshold. Since 2013, eligibility has been extended to innovation expenditure by SMEs, and to innovative new companies (JEIs) which can combine the research tax credit with other tax and social security contribution relief.

• More than 2,000 foreign companies in France received the research tax credit in 2010 (MESR)

• Foreign companies in France made 250 new R&D investments between 2008 and 2013 (IFA Annual Report, 2013).

THE EMPLOYMENT ACT of June 14, 2013 responds to the needs of companies to adjust output, and consolidates employment security and career paths by building upon renewed social dialogue within the corporate sphere. It demonstrates that France is capable of reform through negotiation.

THE RESPONSIBILITY AND SOLIDARITY PACT will simplify paperwork and reduce labor costs.

• $36 billion reduction in labor costs by 2016

• Corporate tax rate to be lowered starting in 2017 down to 28% by 2020

• 200 initial measures to simplify administrative procedures, legislative and regulatory standards have already been approved

• Five key tax incentives for corporate investment and daily management have been fixed for a five-year period

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES for businesses are being simplified thanks to a digital-first strategy:

• France is ranked first in Europe and fourth in the world for e-government (E-Government survey, UN, 2014)

• The “Tell us just once” initiative eliminates the need to provide the same information to different authorities.

EFFECTIVE AND CUSTOMIZED SUPPORTFOR THE SUCCESS OF YOUR INVESTMENT

Key French Officials at CES 2015

46

France at CES 2015


EMMANUEL MACRONMINISTER FOR THE ECONOMY, INDUSTRY AND DIGITAL AFFAIRSEmmanuel Macron was born on December 21, 1977 in Amiens (Somme), France.

MINISTERIAL OFFICE. Minister for the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, since August 26, 2014

POLITICAL POSITIONS. Deputy Secretary General of the French President’s Offi ce, from 2012 to 2014

CAREER. Partner at Banque Rothschild et Compagnie from 2011 to 2012 • Investment Banker, from 2008 to 2011 • Senior Economic and Financial Civil Servant, from 2004 to 2008

EDUCATION. Research Master’s degree (DEA) in philosophy from Université Paris X-Nanterre • Research Master’s degree (DEA) in philosophy from Université Paris X-Nanterre • Graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Institut d’études politiques) • Graduate of the French National School of Administration (École nationale d’administration) (Léopold Sédar Senghor class of 2002-2004)

AXELLE LEMAIREMINISTER OF STATE WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR DIGITAL AFFAIRSAxelle Lemaire was born on October 18, 1974 in Ottawa, Canada.

MINISTERIAL OFFICE. Minister of State with responsibility for Digital Affairs at the French Ministry for the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs since April 2014

ELECTED POSITIONS. Deputy of the Third Constituency for French Residents Overseas in London (since 2012)

OTHER POSITIONS. Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group France–United Kingdom–Northern Ireland

CAREER. International law scholar • Parliament researcher at the House of Commons Education. Graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Institut d’études politiques) • Research Master’s degree (DEA) and post-graduate studies in international law – Université Panthéon-Assas • LLM – King’s College London

BIOGRAPHIES

Key French Officials at CES 2015

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MURIEL PÉNICAUDAMBASSADOR FOR INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF THE INVEST IN FRANCE AGENCY (IFA)

Muriel Pénicaud is France’s Ambassador for International Investment.

Since May 2014, she has led the Invest in France Agency (IFA), responsible for promoting and facilitating international investment in France, and the French Agency for International Business Development (UBIFRANCE), dedicated to supporting exports by SMEs and mid-size companies.

From 2008 to 2014, Ms. Pénicaud held the position of Executive Vice-President, Human Resources at Groupe Danone, where she was a member of the Executive Committee, and also served as the Chairman of the Board of the Danone Ecosystem Fund for SMEs. She held a number of executive positions at the same group between 1993 and 2002.

In the intervening period (2002-2008), she was a member of the Executive committee at Dassault Systèmes as Executive Vice-President of Organization, Human Resources and Sustainable Development.

After starting her career as a local government administrator, she held a number of management posts at the French Ministry for Labor from 1985 to 2002, and was a Ministerial Advisor from 1991 to 1993.

Between 2011 and 2014, Ms. Pénicaud was also an independent member of the Board at Orange, chairing the Governance and Corporate Social/Environmental Responsibility Committee. Since 2013, she has also been an independent member of the Board at SNCF, chairing the Transport and Logistics Committee. In 2014, she was appointed as an independent Board member at Aéroports de Paris.

Ms. Pénicaud has also chaired AgroParisTech (Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences) since 2013, and is a

member of the government steering committee for the “New Face of Industry in France”. She previously chaired the National Council for the Economy & Education in 2014, while in 2010 she co-founded and became Vice-President of TV DMA, the leading academic TV channel for Corporate Management and Business Law.

Ms. Pénicaud was born in March 1955 and is the mother of two children. She has degrees in History, Educational Sciences, and Clinical Psychology and is an executive alumna of INSEAD Business School. She has also been awarded the French Legion of Honor.

YVES LAPIERRECOMMISSIONER AND CEO OF THE FRENCH PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Yves LAPIERRE was appointed Commissioner and CEO of the French patent and trademark office in August 2010. He is a graduate of the École Polytechnique (X74) and has a Doctorate in Physics. Before joining the Office, he worked in industry and research, with a consistently strong focus on innovation. Until 1992, he occupied several posts within the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), in France and at Stanford University, USA. He then joined Safran-Hispano Suiza as Commercial and Programmes Director. In 1994, he moved to the CEA, where he was successively Head of Department then Deputy Director of the “Fuel cycle” division. He also headed up the “Silva” project. In 2001, Yves Lapierre joined the Areva group as the Director of Industrialisation for STMI (subsidiary of Areva/EDF), where he was appointed CEO in 2003. He was then named CEO of Areva TA (Technicatome) in 2009.

France at CES 2015

france at ces 2015

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