The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and Silicon Valley deep tech venture firm Playground Global have signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate the commercialization of breakthrough deep technologies. Announced on July 24, 2026 from Grenoble and Palo Alto, the agreement lays the groundwork for identifying, developing, and scaling next-generation companies in advanced computing, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, quantum, energy, biotech, and other strategic sectors.

The partnership will operate along two main lines: R&D collaboration between CEA institutes—including its microelectronics arm, CEA-Leti—and Playground’s early-stage portfolio companies; and joint evaluation of projects and startups emerging from CEA laboratories to support technological maturation, commercialization, and scaling. The goal is to fuse CEA’s world-class research and technology-transfer capabilities with Playground’s expertise in building frontier tech ventures. The MoU also covers technology scouting, commercialization strategy, and startup acceleration, linking CEA’s research ecosystem to Playground’s investment network. Both parties view it as a first step toward a longer-term partnership.

CEA was recently named the world’s most innovative public research organization on Clarivate’s 2026 Top 100 Global Innovators list. Its Technological Research Division houses three institutes focused on tech transfer: CEA-Leti (semiconductors), CEA-List (software and digital technologies), and a network of regional hubs extending technology to French SMEs. The CEA already propels lab-to-market transitions through its investment subsidiary, CEA Investissement, which takes stakes in spin-offs, and through the co-founded Supernova Invest, an independent investment manager with over €800 million under management across more than 100 investments in over 70 portfolio companies.

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​​​​​​​​​The agreement will strengthen the commercialization of deep technology innovations by combining CEA's research leadership with Playground's venture-building expertise.​

GRENOBLE, France and PALO ALTO, Calif. – July 24, 2026 – The FrenchAlternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission(the CEA) andPlayground Global LLC, a Silicon Valley deep tech venture capital firm, today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore a strategic collaboration focused on accelerating the commercialization of breakthrough deep technologies.

The agreement establishes a framework for the CEA and Playground to identify, develop, and support the next generation of deep technology companies spanning advanced computing, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, energy, biotechnology and other strategically important sectors. The two organizations will explore cooperation across two main areas: research and development collaboration between the CEA's institutes - including CEA-Leti, its microelectronics institute - and Playground's early-stage portfolio companies; and joint evaluation of deep technology projects and startups originating in CEA laboratories, to support their technological maturation, commercialization and scaling.

The collaboration aims to strengthen the pathway from laboratory innovation to global commercial impact by combining Playground's expertise in building and scaling frontier technology companies with the CEA's world-class scientific research and technology-transfer capabilities.

The agreement also covers technology scouting, commercialization strategy and startup acceleration, connecting the CEA's research ecosystem to Playground's investment network.

The MoU marks an initial step toward a longer-term partnership between the CEA and Playground, which intend to draw on their respective research, investment and industry networks as they work together to advance deep technology ventures.

The CEA, named the world's most innovative public research organization on Clarivate's 2026 Top 100 Global Innovators list, includes three institutes within its Technological Research Division dedicated to technology transfer: CEA-Leti, focused on semiconductors; CEA-List, focused on software and digital technologies; and a network of regional hubs that extend CEA technologies to small and medium-sized enterprises across France.

The CEA already supports the transition from laboratory to enterprise through its investment subsidiary, CEA Investissement, which takes stakes in many of the CEA's spin-off companies. The CEA also co-founded Supernova Invest, an independent investment manager that advises CEA Investissement and has grown into one of the leading deep technology investors in France, with more than 800 million euros under management across over 100 investments in more than 70 portfolio companies.​​