Answers to your questions about the AMI Greentech Innovation

How can I access the application form?

The application form is available on the Greentech Innovation website’s dedicated call for expressions of interest page and must be submitted to the Simplified Procedures website, along with all required attachments. Can I modify my application after submitting it? No, once the application has been submitted and the closing date has passed, it is no longer possible to modify it. To ensure equal treatment of applicants, no additional information submitted afterward will be considered.

However, the application can be modified during the application period.

How is project confidentiality managed?

Application forms are only viewed by Ecolab, the Ministry’s general directorates, and the members of the hearing panel. For those outside the Ministry, we require them to sign a confidentiality clause.

Are companies from the French Overseas Territories and Territories eligible? Yes, however, to submit your application using simplified procedures, you must have a SIRET number. For companies located in New Caledonia, you must submit your application on the dedicated simplified procedures page.

In what format should the application be submitted? Can it be submitted with multiple files? Are there any file size limits?

The application must be completed as a single file, the one provided on Simplified Procedures and the website. A pitch deck or other similar documents will not be accepted as a standalone application. These may be submitted with the application but do not constitute a separate application.

The application file and its constituent files are not subject to a size limit. However, to ensure the ergonomic use of the application platform and, more importantly, to ensure responsible digitalization, we encourage you to limit their size (compress large files, reduce image quality where possible, etc.).

What are the selection criteria?

The main criteria for being part of the Greentech Innovation program are as follows: being an SME or startup proposing an innovative, impactful project that is aligned with public policies regarding the ecological transition. For details regarding project eligibility and evaluation, please refer to the regulations and the application file. How can I ensure that my project is aligned with public policies regarding the ecological transition? Is this list available? How can I access the various public policies? With official links? By theme? Your project must fall within one of the following themes: Sustainable food and agriculture Sustainable buildings and citiesDecarbonization of industry

Water, biodiversity, and biomimicry

Circular economy

Renewable and low-carbon energies

Maritime innovation and marine ecosystems

Sustainable mobility

Risk prevention
Health and the environment
Eco-responsible digital technology
Sustainable finance and CSR
In addition, this year, particular attention will be paid to the following issues specific to the ministries and directorates-general concerned:
Digital twins,
Artificial intelligence,
Satellite data,
Hydrogen,
Reducing the environmental footprint of digital technology,
Digital sobriety and eco-design.
Reducing the use of single-use plastics, particularly packaging (reuse, reduction, substitution),

Reusing materials and, more generally, all solutions to extend the lifespan of products placed on the market,

Separating waste at source and recovering biowaste,
Sorting and producing new raw materials from waste, particularly waste that is not currently recycled, or is recycled in small quantities, or for higher value-added applications,
Conservative collection,
Recovery of micro- and macro-plastics,
Decarbonizing buildings,
Alternatives to traditional building materials, which are generally high emitters (including low-carbon cements),
Improved recycling of building materials, particularly cement and glass,
Use of inert anodes for aluminum production,
Steel production through direct electrolysis of iron ore,
CO2 capture technologies,
Industrial net carbon absorption technologies Carbon,
alternatives to synthetic nitrogen fertilizers,
sobriety, i.e., reducing energy needs at the source, as well as material needs and impacts (carbon, biodiversity, etc.),
methods and services: changing practices, controlling consumption, raising awareness/mobilization, organizational initiatives, decision-making tools,
preserving and restoring the functionality of environments, including soils, developing nature-based solutions, innovation in development practices,
implementing the “avoid-reduce-offset” sequence, particularly applied to ordinary biodiversity,
impact avoidance techniques (bird/wind turbine collisions, preventing noise from offshore wind farms, etc.) – measure 5.3 of the National Biodiversity Strategy,
Innovative nature-based environmental planning and management practices,
Ecosystem restoration,
Tools and methods to promote sobriety with a view to preservation, resilience, environmental recovery, and resource conservation,
Integrated water conservation and management, including the reuse of unconventional waters,
Eco-designed biomimicry solutions,
Environmental metrology for observation, monitoring, and assessment of environments,
Mechanization to intervene in sensitive natural environments,
Participatory science, and raising public awareness of ocean ecological issues,
Reducing pollution and discharges into the oceans (chemicals, plastics, etc.), both preventively and correctively (collection systems),
Combating the destruction of marine habitats and ecosystems,
Reducing the impact of human activities (GHG, noise, collisions, etc.) on the environment, particularly on marine species, both in deployment (noise) and in operation (birds, mammals, etc.). fish),
ocean energies (tidal, thermal, osmotic, wave, etc.),
climate change adaptation along the coastal strip,
ocean bioprospecting,
data dissemination/data exploitation, on non-financial reporting (CSRD, SFDR and Decree 29 LEC, ADEME’s CTH),
tailor-made training solutions in CSR and sustainable finance,
solutions promoting dialogue between business stakeholders,
hydrogen, particularly industrial projects (decarbonization of industrial processes), and new uses for heavy mobility,
tools for optimizing energy consumption,
geothermal energy,
heat pumps,
energy storage,
solar thermal energy,
hydrogen production by electrolysis,
PV deployment on specific surfaces (agriPV, large-scale installations, parking lots, rooftops, etc.),
Synthetic or biomass gases and fuels with limited usage,
Recharging infrastructure for electric vehicles,
Development of electric vehicles,
Reduction of exposures and risks (particularly related to chemical and physical agents) for humans and biodiversity
Contribution to adaptation to global change
Contribution to reducing socio-spatial inequalities in terms of health risks (human, animal, biodiversity) related to the environment
Contribution to the ability of stakeholders (civil society, economic actors, communities, etc.) to make informed decisions on environmental risk factors that can affect health
Prevention, on chemical sobriety, and reduction of exposure to products hazardous to human, environmental, and animal health in a “one health” approach
Development of smart, connected, and energy-efficient or even autonomous agricultural equipment
Innovative or technological solutions for the agroecological transition, health performance, and animal welfare
Reduction and preference for alternatives to inputs, synthetic fertilizers and fossil fuels, reduction of water use, preservation of biodiversity, protection against climatic and health hazards, and organisms harmful to plants or animals, preservation and enhancement of soils, etc.,
the development of innovative solutions or methods based on nature and natural mechanisms, products of natural or bio-sourced origin to reduce the use of fossil or synthetic inputs,
The development of genetic resource diversity through improved genetic and varietal selection and the selection of heterogeneous populations, aiming for optimized combinations that provide multi-performance and resilience against pests and diseases, and contribute to the diversification of crops and production, with positive effects on biodiversity,
the development of healthier, more sustainable foods that meet consumer expectations in terms of consumption patterns, nutritional quality, taste, and naturalness. This particularly involves addressing the market for plant-based proteins and foods derived from new protein sources, for which fermentation techniques in particular play a crucial role in production and preservation;
the development of innovative processes that leverage new technologies to enhance traceability, quality, and food safety, adapted to the agri-food industry’s production chains, logistics channels, and the demand for flexibility and customization of food, while limiting environmental impacts, in order to successfully achieve the digital transition, gain competitiveness, and reduce dependence on imports;
issues related to the food safety of packaging and food containers for cooking, heating, and serving in institutional catering services, in a context of rapidly changing regulatory requirements and growing consumer expectations; and the development of smart, low-impact packaging in the agri-food sector.
New tools designed to guide various stakeholders in the food chain towards more virtuous behaviors and improve the traceability and transparency of consumer information, based on advanced nutritional information systems and new methods for assessing product sustainability. The circular economy, through the fight against food waste and the recovery of by-products of food production.
This list is not exhaustive, and projects falling within one of the thematic areas without being linked to one of these priorities are eligible.
It is also possible to find additional information online on the website of each relevant ministry as well as on other government platforms (France Relance, France 2030, etc.) and thus check whether your project is aligned with public policies regarding the ecological transition.
Is it possible to get help identifying the theme before submitting the application, or does Ecolab reassign projects to the appropriate themes? Can I choose multiple themes when applying? What happens if there is a selection error?
Applicants are expected to choose a single theme to which their project relates, even if it may appear to overlap or cover several themes. The choice of theme determines the jury responsible for reviewing the application. We therefore ask applicants to pay particular attention to this; however, we may reassign your project after the first selection stage, if necessary.
What are the expectations regarding the description of environmental potential? Are supporting figures required to apply?
The application file provides a table to guide the applicant company in clearly and rigorously justifying its environmental impact. Providing sourced or proven figures obviously helps to strengthen this justification and will be considered during the application review. If the project is selected for a hearing, the experts may question the applicant about the justification provided in their application.
Is legal form a criterion? Is a civil company eligible? Can an association apply?
Yes, as the CEI is intended only for businesses, the legal status of the structure in question is a criterion. Only those registered in a commercial register are eligible. Particularly those that claim the following statuses defined by the Ministry of Economy and Finance:
Sole Proprietorship (EI) or Limited Liability Sole Proprietorship (EIRL)

Single-Member Limited Liability Company (EURL)

Limited Liability Company (SARL)

Public Limited Company (SA)

Simplified Joint Stock Company (SAS) or Single-Member Simplified Joint Stock Company (SASU)

General Partnership (SNC)

Production Cooperative (Scop)

Limited Partnership (SCA) and Limited Partnership (SCS)

Civil partnerships or associations are not suitable structures for economic activities involving risk: in the event of default, the members of the association must repay the debts incurred from their own funds. There is no commercial court to manage defaults and limit the risk for those involved in the project. What are the prerequisites in terms of shareholding? Can an SME be owned by an SME? Is an independent subsidiary integrated into a group of more than 250 employees eligible? The European definition of an SME is the one used: a company with fewer than 250 employees and a turnover not exceeding €50 million. Companies that are not owned 25% or more of the capital or voting rights by a company, or jointly by several companies that do not meet the definition of an SME or a small business, as the case may be, are considered independent.

Can a group of SMEs respond?
Only an SME in the European sense of the term can respond; it must respond alone.
Does it have to be “Made in France”? Applicant companies must be domiciled in France or in a European Union member country (via the dedicated call for proposals). However, not all production must be carried out in France, as many activities cannot be carried out in their entirety. However, the location of all or part of the production within France and/or Europe is valued during the application review.
Do I have a chance of being selected if I propose a solution similar to that of a startup already present in the Greentech Innovation ecosystem?
We aim to guarantee a diverse range of Greentech solutions and therefore favor variety over duplication. However, we also group startups and SMEs into themes. Within these themes, some companies may be complementary or quite similar. It is therefore not prohibitive to propose a solution similar to one already present in the ecosystem; the challenge for you will be to demonstrate the innovative nature of the proposed project and to argue what you can add.
Can a project that was already submitted during a previous call for expressions of interest but was rejected reapply?
Any project that was rejected during a previous call for expressions of interest for any reason, particularly due to its maturity, may apply again. However, the applicant must demonstrate progress compared to their previous application.
Can we find examples of projects that may be considered?

The winning projects are available on the dedicated page of our website.

However, each project is fundamentally different from the other and does not affect the eligibility of your application.

Should the application be for an existing project or something that may be launched soon? What is the expected level of maturity?

The project submitted must be an existing one. Projects in the ideation phase cannot be selected. We require that a minimum viable product, delivered and functional, be submitted. Can a newly created structure apply? Is there a required turnover criterion?

A newly created structure can apply if it is registered in the commercial register and has a minimum viable product.

Turnover must not exceed €50 million to meet the definition of an SME, but we do not have a minimum turnover requirement. What is meant by an MVP? Is a TRL 5/6 demonstrator suitable? Can the MVP be a mock-up? An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is a minimalist but functional version of a product or service. This prototype of the product (or service) must at least partially meet the initial project mission and the theoretical objective of the finished product. It must demonstrate technical stability, announce a future version that will address its flaws and add new features. It must be capable of being tested in real-life situations through technical and user testing.

To reason in terms of TRL (Technology Readiness Level), this would correspond to a TRL 6, but Greentech Innovation does not apply strict TRL criteria. Since development boundaries can be porous and constraints vary depending on the sector, we will conduct a case-by-case analysis to determine whether the project is mature enough for the service offering to be relevant to it. Otherwise, we invite promising but not yet fully developed projects to contact Greentech Innovation’s partner incubators and/or to reapply at the next call for proposals. We expect applicant companies to demonstrate their MVP by attaching all relevant elements (links to videos, presentations, proofs of concept, results of the presentation of innovative solutions to the target audiences) to their application, demonstrating its progress. In the case of a platform, even a high-fidelity mockup is not sufficient to meet the MVP requirements; a basic coded version that has undergone an initial production run will be required. Results from initial presentations to certain “beta tester” audiences are appreciated.

Does it have to be at the MVP stage, or can the products already be commercially available?

The MVP is the minimum level required to be eligible; products can be marketed.

How many winners are selected each year?

For the 2025 CEI promotion, we will select up to 25 winners.

When will the auditions be held?

The auditions are expected to take place in April 2025. How many companies are interviewed? We count up to 8 companies per theme; this number varies depending on the number of applicants.

If the application is rejected, is a reason given?

We only provide a reason for rejection for companies that were interviewed but not selected.

How many applications and winners are received each year?

In 2024, we selected 22 winners out of 159 applications. To ensure quality support for selected startups, we limit the number of winners to a maximum of 25 for the new intake.

What support is available to winning startups?

It is presented on the corresponding support page on our website.

How often is the Greentech Innovation Call for Expressions of Interest held?

The call for expressions of interest is held once a year; it generally opens at the end of the year and closes at the beginning of the following year.