en.Wedoany.com Reported - The French government has launched a project call under the "France 2030" plan, aiming to strengthen the country's voice in the international standard-setting process for sixth-generation mobile communications (6G). The call is managed by Bpifrance, with each selected project requiring a minimum expenditure of €1 million and must bring together large enterprises familiar with standardization processes and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited knowledge of bodies such as 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project).
The technical specifications for future mobile communication networks are negotiated within international bodies. Related standardization work began in May 2024, with core phases set to intensify from 2027 onwards. The first commercial launch of 6G networks is expected by 2030 at the latest. Against this backdrop, the Direction Générale des Entreprises (French General Directorate for Enterprise) and the Secrétariat Général pour l'Investissement (General Secretariat for Investment) have been leading this project call since July 7, 2026.
This mechanism is part of the "5G and Future Networks" acceleration strategy under the France 2030 plan, aimed at building a national ecosystem, accelerating SME capacity building, and ensuring France's place in global standard-setting. The application deadline for the project call is January 15, 2027, at noon, with four intermediate review sessions scheduled between September 15, 2026, and December 15, 2026. State support will be provided in the form of a combination of grants and repayable advances, in compliance with EU state aid rules.
France currently has a relatively active supporting ecosystem. The "Réseaux du futur" (Future Networks) program brings together 25 research institutions. Another project call for "Innovative Solutions for Future Networks (5G/6G)" has supported 30 projects and approximately 50 companies since 2023. The "France 6G" platform, led by the Institut Mines-Télécom, drives industry development on a daily basis. At the European level, French companies can also receive support through the "Smart Networks and Services" Joint Undertaking and the "Horizon Europe" program.
Selected projects will be implemented over 12 to 36 months, progressing in two phases: first, a "Study item" phase for exploring technical pathways, followed by a "Work item" phase to bring the technology to international standards. Each consortium must assume two roles: back-office work includes preparing technical arguments, tracking meeting schedules, and building standardization documents; front-office work involves sending representatives to international meetings to convey the French position. Bpifrance emphasizes that experienced companies must transfer their technical know-how to organizations unfamiliar with such work, including SMEs, micro-enterprises, startups, and research laboratories. Applicants must also demonstrate that their work location is in France, comply with tax and social security regulations, and adhere to the EU's "Do No Significant Harm" (DNSH) principle.
Anne Le Hénanff, the Ministerial Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, stated that 6G standardization is a strategic lever for French industry and that this investment is indispensable for national technological sovereignty. However, the question remains whether this ambitious mobilization is sufficient to turn the tide in a game where France is far from the only player.
