France is actively recruiting participants for the European Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on artificial intelligence, with a deadline of 9 September 2026 for French companies and research bodies to submit their candidacies. This call is deliberately broad: while developers of large language models are natural candidates, the selection scope explicitly includes cloud service providers, data specialists, telecom operators, open-source software publishers, industrial firms, and research organisations. The goal is to build a comprehensive European AI ecosystem by funding upstream research, first industrial deployment, and enabling infrastructure — not just model creation.

The IPCEI framework permits member states to inject public money into cross-border innovation projects that would not materialise through market forces alone, under relaxed state-aid rules. France, through its public investment bank Bpifrance and relevant ministries, is coordinating the national selection to propose a slate of projects that will later be integrated into the pan-European initiative. Prospective candidates must present projects that are both technologically ambitious and collaborative, involving partners from at least two other EU countries or associated nations. The evaluation will prioritise proposals that demonstrate a clear path from R&D to industrial application, address key bottlenecks such as energy-efficient computing, trustworthy data sharing, or specialised edge AI hardware, and contribute to European digital sovereignty.

While the extended deadline (until 2026) suggests a phased process, companies are encouraged to engage early to refine consortium agreements and align with the IPCEI’s evolving thematic priorities. Selected French participants will gain access to national funding and a seat in a larger European value chain that includes similar projects from other member states, amplifying opportunities for co-development and scale-up. The move signals France’s intention to channel its AI investments toward a broader set of actors beyond the headline-grabbing generative AI labs, reinforcing the infrastructure and component layers that underpin the entire sector. For eligible organisations, the application process begins with a detailed project proposal submitted via Bpifrance’s dedicated platform, followed by a multi-stage review that assesses technical merit, market potential, and European collaboration credentials.

La France sélectionne jusqu’au 9 septembre 2026 les futurs participants français du Projet important d’intérêt européen commun consacré à l’intelligence artificielle. L’appel ne s’adresse pas uniquement aux développeurs de grands modèles. Fournisseurs de cloud, spécialistes des données, opérateurs télécoms, éditeurs open source, industriels et organismes de recherche peuvent également se positionner. À condition de présenter …

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