The announcement was made on February 2 by the Minister Delegate in charge of the Digital Transition and Telecommunications, Jean-Noel Barrot : Réunion joins the network of French Tech Capitals.
Developed in 2019, the Capitals and Communities of French Tech form a network established in France and internationally whose role is to bring together innovation players within the territories (start-up, support structures, financiers, large groups, research centers, etc.).
The network now includes 115 Capitals and Communities : 15 capitals in France and one in Overseas (The meeting), 32 Communities in France (including six in overseas regions and communities) and 67 Communities internationally, spread across 52 countries. Their actions are made possible by the mobilization of more than 1,400 volunteers, mostly entrepreneurs, who commit themselves as presidents or members of the offices of Capitals and Communities. It is therefore a new step which has been reached. In 2016, Reunion had been labeled the French tech e-health thematic network. In 2019, it had been French Tech community overseas. In 2022, it officially became the French Tech La Réunion association, with co-presidents Elodie Royer (MyData Solution) et Manuel Warlop (Sodom). Last February 2, the Minister Delegate in charge of the Digital Transition and Telecommunications announced the entry of Reunion Island into the French Tech Capitals network, thus making it the first French Tech Capital of the Overseas Territories.
From Community to Capital, what changes ?
While Capitale French Tech, The Meeting will be associated with the strategic reflections of the national French Tech mission on the actions to be implemented to respond to the challenges of tomorrow. Throughout the year, French Tech La Réunion will participate in the Capitals seminars, to the national councils of Communities and Capitals in the presence of Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and strategic reflection workshops on national programs. “So many opportunities to make our local specificities heard at the national level in a more effective way in order to transform them into a concrete project for the economic development of Reunion Island”, adds Manuel Warlop. On the financing side, the Capitale French Tech title allows the territories concerned to request larger specific grants to bring the development of national programs to the local level. Still within the framework of this new labeling, French Tech Réunion will set up the French Tech Central system. The latter allows simplified appointments between local start-ups and public actors.. Finally, the French Tech Capitales benefit from their own operational teams : a second permanent member will join Juliette Campione, project manager at French Tech La Réunion since May 2021.
“Growing together”
“This transition from Community to Capital is the result of a territorial dynamic resulting from the collaboration and support of numerous public actors., like the region, than private with large groups, companies and start-ups from Reunion Island. This new title of Capitale French Tech, we see it as the possibility of uniting all the Communities of the Overseas Territories in order to grow together to enhance and develop the economy of our territories. Our ambition is in fact to develop relationships with the French Tech communities in the Indian Ocean region., but also with all the Overseas Territories Communities who all supported the candidacy of Reunion Island.", explains Elodie Royer.
