Aid for innovation

The France Experimentation scheme: derogating from a regulation to make its project succeed

Publié le null - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Since 2016, the inter-ministerial mechanism France Experimentation allows companies to derogate from any legislation or regulation that restricts an innovative project. Little known, however, this free device is proving to be very useful in adapting the right to innovation.

Image 1
Image 1Crédits: © RomanR - stock.adobe.com

A free mechanism to change a regulation or a law

France Experimentation is a free-of-charge facility operated by the companies Directorate General (DGE) and the Interministerial Directorate for Public Transformation (DITP). Its aim is to enable companies who are faced with blocking legislation or regulations to develop their innovative project. Indeed, some laws are old and no longer correspond to the new needs of innovative projects. The sectors of technology, the social and solidarity economy and the ecological transition are particularly concerned.

This device makes it possible to lift, by way of derogation and experiment, the regulations blocking the project concerned. The duration of this derogation ranges from 3 to 5 years.

In some cases, regulations or legislation may be permanently amended.

France Experimentation gives entrepreneurs and promoters of innovative projects the opportunity to express their needs to adapt French legal standards and administrative procedures and to test their innovations.

It is also possible to take advantage of this mechanism when the project proves to be feasible in relation to the law in force. In this case, France Experimentation makes a general and final amendment to the legal framework which blocks the project in question. No derogation or experimentation will then be necessary.

Over the first five years of the scheme, more than 350 projects were supported, one third of which were the start-ups.

How to access it?

The approach to be accompanied by France Experimentation is:

    • If you have a SIRET number: deposit your file on this application form;
    • If you do not have a SIRET number: file your file on this application form;
    • Create your account by simply entering your email and password of your choice. If you already have France Connect credentials, you can use them to log in directly.
  2. France Experimentation contact you and forward your file to the relevant ministry. Each file is subject to the decision of the Prime Minister's Office.

For any questions about the device (operation, eligibility of your innovative project...), you can contact the France Experimentation to: france-experimentation.ditp@modernisation.gouv.fr.

Additional topics