French Tech: a driving force for sovereignty

French Tech 2026 in figures: a mature and diverse ecosystem

French Tech has demonstrated its resilience in 2026, with 18,000 active start-ups and scale-ups and 450,000 direct jobs – a record high despite a challenging national economic climate. As Julie Huguet, Director of the French Tech Mission, points out, this edition marks ‘an unprecedented acceleration’ in the ecosystem’s geographical, technological and sectoral diversification.

A dynamic that is spreading across the regions. 57.4 per cent of start-ups are now based in the regions, accounting for 42 per cent of jobs in the sector — demonstrating the importance of French Tech to the national economy.

Funding is rising sharply. With €4.96 billion raised in the first half of 2026, the ecosystem confirms investors’ confidence, driven by ever more ambitious mega-deals. France retains its third place in the European rankings, just behind the United Kingdom and Germany.

New sectors of excellence. ArtificialIntelligence , DeepTech, quantum computing, space technology and GreenTech are emerging as the new drivers of growth, led by companies such as Mistral AI and Pasqal, France’s first quantum unicorn.

A strengthened global presence. Major corporate groups are becoming active partners within the ecosystem, whilst the French Tech network – with 19 Capitals and 106 Communities spread across the globe – supports the international reach of French start-ups and scale-ups.