The next wave of industrial innovation is here - and it starts with a powerful partnership between Bavaria and France. On April 29th, 2025, the French-Bavarian Accelerator, a joint initiative by BayStartUP and Bpifrance, officially launched in Paris. With a 12-month agenda packed with training, site visits, B2B meetings, and strategic networking, this accelerator is designed to support pioneering industrial startups on their path to successful international expansion.
What is the French-Bavarian Accelerator?
The program aims to build cross-border industrial collaborations, open new markets, and foster long-term business relationships. Its mission is simple yet ambitious:
- Support market entry in France or Bavaria
- Facilitate strategic partnerships
- Encourage factory setups or sales structures
- Deliver hands-on training for international growth strategies
- Promote multicultural business leadership
Over the course of one year, the selected startups will participate in on-site trainings in Paris and Bavaria, visit local industry leaders, and engage in curated B2B matchmaking—all while being individually coached by a dedicated support team.
Who’s behind It?
The French-Bavarian Accelerator is organized by BayStartUP and Bpifrance, with support from Gründerland Bayern and the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy. It's a collective push to enhance Europe’s industrial competitiveness through meaningful startup engagement. Matthieu Heslouin Executive Director for Business Support at Bpifrance tells: “The launch of the Franco-Bavarian Accelerator is an important step in strengthening the strategic ties between France and Germany, in a geopolitical context that makes this more necessary than ever. The collaboration between France and Bavaria is an opportunity for the development of our industries. Together, we can create a dynamic and competitive ecosystem capable of meeting the technological and industrial challenges of the future.”
Christoph Pfaff, head of Gründerland Bayern, the Start-up Policy Unit of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development an Energy, adds: “The French-Bavarian accelerator sends an important signal: We are looking to strengthen and further advance our European innovation, economic and start-up eco-system in a lasting manner. If we want to stay on top of the competition coming out of China and the USA, we will need a common European path.”
Carsten Rudolph, Managing Director of BayStartUP says: “While we developed the accelerator program, we always had those startups in mind, who are ready for going their first business steps in France and Germany respectively. To achieve that, we are convinced that the group will benefit strongly from the cooperative sessions we will have in Paris and Munich over the course of the next year.“
Meet the participating startups and SMEs
From Bavaria:
- LEANBYTE secures process-related expert knowledge, qualifies workers across sites in multiple languages and supports them with worker management. Already trusted by companies like Thyssenkrupp, Leanbyte sees France as a key market facing similar workforce challenges.
- NANOSTRUCT sells analyzing systems & consumable sensor chips to food analysis laboratories that measure the pathogenic bacteria Listeria & Salmonella in minutes instead of days. The Product-as-a-Service is used – analyzing system (upfront), sensors (recurring)
- SCIO TECHNOLOGY designs compact, modular battery systems for mobile and industrial use. Its patented tech eliminates bulky cell holders, offering both performance and safety. With its first French client already secured, SCIO is scaling fast.
- UBIMASTER provides affordable tutoring and financial literacy tools through B2B/B2B2C models—enabling banks and corporates to offer life-changing benefits to employees and customers. With French clients already requesting access, their rollout is ready.
- WORKERBASE revolutionizes manufacturing by digitizing operations with AI-powered tools and automated workflows, enabling seamless task management, real-time communication, and actionable insights to improve efficiency and reduce downtime. Backed by leading venture capital and a team with 30+ years of experience, the Workerbase Connected Worker Platform empowers frontline workers and drives continuous performance across factories.
From France:
- BIOXEGY imagines, designs and develops intelligent and sustainable bio-inspired technologies to meet your innovation challenges.
- DFM EUROPE develops innovative digital and industrial solutions to improve business performance. Our flagship technology, ATN - Digital Technical Assistant, automates and optimises business processes, from design to production, including administration.
- LIUM is developing an autonomous surveillance solution using tethered balloons equipped with cameras and artificial intelligence, designed to protect sensitive industrial sites (Seveso, critical infrastructures) by detecting fires, gas leaks and intrusions in real time.
- LYNXTER develops professional 3D printers that can be modulated with an open collaborative system: materials, equipment and software.
- NUMALIS is helping industries to embrace artificial intelligence with confidence by providing cutting-edge methods and tools for developing reliable AI systems, through the validation of robustness and explainable decision-making processes.
- PERCIPIO ROBOTICS is an industrial robotics deeptech specialising in the assembly of ultra-miniature products with micrometric precision. It designs and manufactures modular robotic machines in collaboration with its customers in the electronics, photonics and biomedical sectors, based on the ‘Human in the Loop’ model.
- SINTERMAT industrializes an innovative process based on powder metallurgy, called Flash sintering (or SPS sintering), which makes it possible to design augmented materials from metal, composite and natural powders, with a wide range of applications: aeronautics, defence, nuclear, industrial tools, luxury goods, recycling, etc.
- SIRFULL develops solutions that help its clients anticipate market changes and optimize the lifecycle of their industrial equipment. With over 30 years of industry experience in welding and inspection, the software tech company has a strong industrial culture.
Launching with Impact
The Kick-Off Event in Paris on April 29th set the stage for the year ahead. Hosted at the historic Hôtel de l'Industrie, the day included startup pitches, partner speeches, and a networking cocktail reception. The following day, the startups dived into their first full training: participants explored how to develop an international strategy, including clarifying their value proposition and preparing their companies for export. They engaged in workshops to identify immediate actions for export readiness and practiced intercultural communication and negotiation skills. The day concluded with a negotiation lab focused on active listening and reaching mutually acceptable agreements.
What’s next?
After the Paris sessions, the program continues with workshops in Bavaria, factory visits, talent & CSR sessions, and intensive B2B matchmaking—all designed to unlock real business opportunities and help companies scale successfully across borders.
The French-Bavarian Accelerator is more than a program – it’s a launchpad for cross-border innovation, lasting partnerships, and sustainable growth.
Photos: Bpifrance, Jana Krotsch, Alexander Weis