Disclaimer: This English translation is provided for informational purposes only. In the event of any discrepancy, inconsistency, or difference in interpretation between this translation and the original French version, the original French version shall prevail.

Overall Description

Diag Europe is a Bpifrance support scheme that helps innovative French start-ups and SMEs prepare and submit applications to European Commission research and innovation programmes supporting individual, mono-beneficiary projects. The assistance takes the form of a partially subsidised consultancy delivered by an expert specialising in European funding.

Funding Amount

The consultancy may cost up to €20,000 excluding VAT.

• Bpifrance contribution: 50% of the consultancy cost, up to €10,000 excluding VAT
• Company contribution: The remaining 50%, up to €10,000 excluding VAT
• Bpifrance pays its contribution directly to the expert after completion of the assignment.
• Only fixed consultancy costs are accepted. Variable fees and success fees are ineligible.
• Travel expenses are excluded from the subsidised consultancy.

Submission Deadlines

• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
• the Diag Europe request must be submitted to Bpifrance at least one month before the deadline of the relevant European call.
• The consultancy must be completed within a maximum of four months after the contract with Bpifrance is signed.

Submission Conditions

• The applicant must first contact Bpifrance to select an expert for the consultancy.
• The application must then be submitted through the Bpifrance online platform.
• The application must include an unsigned quotation from the selected expert.
• Companies more than one year old must provide a social-security and tax-compliance certificate issued within the previous three months.
• Companies more than three years old must provide their latest tax accounts.
• Bpifrance verifies the completeness and eligibility of the application before issuing the Diag Europe contract.
• The consultancy may begin only after the contract has been signed; retroactive support is not available.
• An eligible company may receive Diag Europe support only once for each covered call. It cannot obtain a second diagnostic for another application to the same call.
• The company must make its management and relevant personnel available to support the expert’s work.
• The expert must be approved by Bpifrance and possess relevant experience with the targeted European programme.
• For EIC Accelerator applications, the applicant must have successfully completed Step 1 before receiving support for the full Step 2 proposal.
• Support is subject to Bpifrance accepting the request and applicable EU State-aid rules.

Eligible Types Of Applicants

Eligible applicants are:

• Innovative French start-ups
• Independent innovative French SMEs
• Companies with strong growth potential and an international development strategy
• Companies from any sector eligible under Bpifrance’s intervention policy
• Companies with fewer than 250 employees
• Companies with annual turnover below €50 million or a balance-sheet total below €43 million

Companies classified as “undertakings in difficulty” under EU rules are excluded. Applicants may be either existing Bpifrance clients or non-clients.

Eligible Countries

• France, including companies located in the French overseas departments, regions and collectivities (DROM-COM).
• The applicant must be registered and operating in France or a French overseas territory.