How to test your project or activity in a company incubator?
Verified 13 February 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
An incubator is a support structure for the creation of a company that allows you to test your future activity. Your company idea must meet the characteristics of a project called " innovative ”.
For whom, for what?
The incubator is a structure that allows:
- whether your project is viable,
- ripening it,
- and give it opportunities to grow rapidly.
Your project must be innovative.
Innovation is defined by its innovative character and to high potential economic development. We often talk about start-up, andstart-up incubator.
Example :
For example, it may be an innovative field of activity (digital, digital, ecological, artificial intelligence, etc.) or a non-existent technical process. The incubator is often located within a university or research center.
The incubator is for you if you are one of the following stages of your activity:
- Start of an idea
- About to complete your business plan
- About to register
The incubator accompanies you in the medium term, that is to say between 6 months and 1 or 1 and a half years.
He puts at your disposal the following services:
- Premises (office or storage), hardware (office), internet connection
- Tips and personalized coaching of professionals
- Assist with project assembly, help with the construction of your business plan
- Contacts, exchanges, networking with professionals
So you can choose to do the domiciliation of your company at the incubator's address.
You must build a application dossier that presents your project.
It is analyzed by those responsible for the incubation structure.
You must defend and argue your project in maintenance.
As a result of this process, your file is selected or not.
It varies between €150 and €500 per month by type of support services that you choose.
To find an incubator, you can ask the CMA: titleContent of your region (for a craft activity) or of your CCI: titleContent (for a commercial or industrial activity).
Consultants will help you find the right incubator for you.
You can also search the internet by typing "list of incubators", followed by the name of your region.
Don't hesitate to contact the structures to target the ones that best suit you.
Each incubator has specific areas of expertise (technological, digital, ecological, etc.).
Example :
- The The city of Paris has many incubators in different sectors (agriculture, food, fashion and design, optics, technology, health, etc.).
- The École nationale supérieure des arts et Métiers offers its own incubator structure.
- French Tech is the main network of start-up incubators, you will find those offered in your region.
- The CMA de Paris proposes an incubator for artisanal companies
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
For information on incubators, accelerators, company incubators in France
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI)For information on incubators, accelerators, international company incubators (94 countries)
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) internationallyFor information on incubators and activity and employment cooperatives
France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi)
FAQ
City of Paris
École nationale supérieure des arts et Métiers (Ensam)
Chambers of crafts and crafts (CMA)