France and Ireland in AI: Strategies, Partnerships & Horizon Europe Opportunities
As Ireland deepens its commitment to digital transformation and European research, understanding France’s national approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) opens new opportunities for collaboration. With bold public investment, dedicated research programmes, and a strong industrial base, France is positioning itself as a European leader in trustworthy AI.
This creates promising opportunities for Irish researchers, companies, and institutions involved in Horizon Europe to connect with their French counterparts and explore complementary strengths within the evolving European AI landscape.
🎯 France’s AI Strategy
France launched its first National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in 2018, updated in 2021 under the France 2030 investment plan. The government has committed €2.2 billion to AI development, aiming to:
- Strengthen fundamental and applied AI research
- Support AI deployment in key sectors: health, mobility, environment, defence, and industry
- Develop sovereign European technologies based on explainable, ethical, and human-centric AI
- Train a new generation of AI scientists and engineers
The strategy is coordinated by the Interministerial Coordinator for AI and supported by public agencies including Inria, CNRS, CEA, and Bpifrance. France also plays a central role in European AI initiatives such as Adra-e and the AI, Data and Robotics Partnership.
🔬 PEPR Programmes Supporting AI Excellence in France
Under the France 2030 investment plan, PEPRs are flagship research instruments designed to strengthen France’s strategic autonomy in critical technologies. They target emerging scientific fields and are jointly funded by the government and research institutions. Several PEPRs have direct or indirect links to AI, offering numerous entry points for international partnerships — particularly under Horizon Europe.
PEPR IA – Fundamental Research in Artificial Intelligence, coordinated by Inria, CNRS, and CEA, is France’s flagship investment in foundational AI research, with a budget of €73 million over six years. The programme tackles key scientific and technical challenges aligned with European values of trust, transparency, and human-centric design. Its research focuses on explainable AI, frugal machine learning, robust systems, and human–machine interaction. By funding reproducible tools, open benchmarks, and shared data infrastructures, it promotes open science and international collaboration — offering a strong basis for partnerships with Ireland in ethical AI, edge computing, and energy-efficient algorithms. 📎 More information | Official PEPR IA Website
PEPR Santé Numérique (Digital Health), led by Inserm and Inria with approximately €60 million in funding, aims to digitally transform healthcare through AI and data science. It supports the development of medical algorithms, secure data infrastructure, and clinical AI tools. Key priorities include medical imaging, multimodal data integration, federated learning, and the certification of AI in clinical settings. Closely aligned with Horizon Europe Cluster 1 (Health), this programme provides fertile ground for Franco-Irish cooperation on topics such as cancer research, brain health, and ageing populations.
PEPR Technologies Quantiques (Quantum Technologies), coordinated by CNRS, CEA, and Inria, is an eight-year programme with a €150 million budget that explores the interface between quantum technologies and AI. It advances France’s leadership in quantum-enhanced AI through research on quantum machine learning, quantum-inspired algorithms for optimisation and cryptography, and AI-driven quantum control. As a pillar of European digital sovereignty, this initiative opens opportunities for collaboration on next-generation computing with Ireland, particularly in quantum–AI convergence.
🧭 Expansion of AI Clusters in France's AI Ecosystem
In May 2024, as part of the France 2030 investment plan, the French government announced the creation of nine new AI Clusters to bolster research and training in artificial intelligence across the country. This initiative aims to position France as a global leader in AI by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and addressing key societal challenges. (ANR Announcement)
PR[AI]RIE – Paris School of AI (PSAI), led by Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL), is a flagship AI cluster based in Paris with €75 million in funding. It unites prestigious institutions such as ENS, Collège de France, and Inria to promote interdisciplinary research across machine learning, natural language processing, health, and ethics. Through partnerships with corporations and startups, PR[AI]RIE advances responsible and explainable AI while supporting education and open science. 🔗 More Information
MIAI – Multidisciplinary Institute in Artificial Intelligence (Grenoble), coordinated by Université Grenoble Alpes with €70 million, capitalizes on Grenoble’s excellence in microelectronics and computer science. It focuses on embedded and frugal AI, human-centered design, and sustainable innovation. Strong industrial ties with STMicroelectronics and Schneider Electric make MIAI a leader in applied AI for health and smart mobility. 🔗 More Information
Hi! PARIS Cluster 2030, hosted by Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris) and supported by €70 million, combines the strengths of IP Paris and HEC Paris to tackle major societal and economic challenges through AI. With a special emphasis on climate, finance, and entrepreneurship, the cluster also fosters international partnerships and tech transfer to startups. 🔗 More Information
PostGenAI@PARIS, coordinated by Sorbonne Université and funded with €35 million, addresses the risks and opportunities of post-generative AI systems. It brings together experts in governance, law, and security to tackle deepfakes, hallucinations, and the responsible development of large language models (LLMs). The cluster’s multidisciplinary nature makes it a critical actor in the ethical and technical governance of advanced AI. 🔗 More Information
ANITI – Artificial and Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute, based at Université de Toulouse with €35 million in funding, is located in the heart of France’s aerospace ecosystem. It focuses on hybrid AI, combining symbolic and statistical methods to develop intelligent, reliable systems for mobility, aeronautics, and embedded technologies, in close cooperation with Airbus, Thales, and Continental. 🔗 More Information
3IA Côte d’Azur, led by Université Côte d’Azur and supported by €35 million, focuses on AI for health, sustainable environments, and smart cities. Situated in Nice-Sophia Antipolis, it works closely with clinicians and urban planners to develop practical AI applications in medicine and urban resilience, offering strong potential for cross-border cooperation. 🔗 More Information
DATAIA – Paris-Saclay, anchored at Université Paris-Saclay with €35 million in funding, is an interdisciplinary hub linking computer science, mathematics, and the humanities. The cluster explores ethical and regulatory dimensions of AI and fosters responsible innovation in healthcare, education, and energy, particularly through its strength in computational social sciences. 🔗 More Information
ENACT – Grand Est AI Cluster, coordinated by Université de Lorraine and funded at €30 million, develops regional AI ecosystems in engineering, NLP, and digital health. It supports SMEs and public actors through training platforms and innovation support, with a strong emphasis on co-design and real-world use cases, particularly in manufacturing and logistics. 🔗 More Information
SequoIA – Rennes AI Cluster, hosted by Université de Rennes with €20 million, builds on local expertise in telecommunications and cybersecurity. It promotes trustworthy AI through interdisciplinary training and decentralized innovation. SequoIA is particularly engaged in inclusive AI governance and digital sovereignty. 🔗 More Information
Industrial Development of Artificial Intelligence in France
France has adopted a comprehensive and forward-looking approach to artificial intelligence (AI) that includes not only academic excellence and public research but also a fast-growing industrial ecosystem. From large tech players to dynamic startups and sector-specific adopters, France is establishing itself as a key European hub for the responsible and strategic deployment of AI at scale.
🏭 Strategic Sectors Driving Industrial AI
Several sectors have been identified as priority domains for AI investment and deployment, aligned with national and European ambitions:
· Health & Biotech: AI is being used for diagnostics, predictive modelling, and personalized treatment planning. Institutions such as the AP-HP (Greater Paris University Hospitals) work closely with startups and research labs to integrate AI into clinical workflows.
· Aerospace & Mobility: With players like Airbus, Safran, and Thales, France is a leader in applying AI to autonomous systems, intelligent maintenance, and simulation. Toulouse, in particular, is a vibrant AI cluster with strong industrial integration.
· Energy & Environment: Companies like EDF and ENGIE use AI for grid optimization, energy forecasting, and climate resilience planning. AI is central to France’s green transition strategy.
· Cybersecurity & Defence: Supported by agencies such as the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), AI is increasingly used in threat detection, autonomous surveillance, and decision support systems.
· Manufacturing & Robotics: French industry, including major players like Schneider Electric, Dassault Systèmes, and STMicroelectronics, integrates AI into the design, control, and optimization of production systems — part of the national “Industry of the Future” agenda.
🤖 Key Industrial Actors and Initiatives
France’s AI industry is supported by a diverse ecosystem of stakeholders:
🏢 Large Companies
· Atos: High-performance computing and AI services for defence, health, and government.
· Orange: AI for telecom optimisation, customer experience, and fraud detection.
· Renault & Valeo: AI applications in automotive, including computer vision and autonomous mobility.
🚀 Startups & Scaleups
France boasts a vibrant AI startup scene, supported by dedicated funding instruments:
· Mistral AI: One of Europe’s most promising developers of open-source foundation models.
· LightOn: Specializing in hybrid AI hardware/software architectures.
· Heuritech: Using AI to predict fashion trends from social media images.
· Owkin: AI for medical research, recently partnering with pharmaceutical giants.
These startups are supported through programs like La French Tech, the Bpifrance Deeptech fund, and accelerators such as Station F.
🧠 Supporting Infrastructure
The industrial development of AI is also enabled by a robust national infrastructure:
· AI Clusters and Living Labs: The 3IA and new IA Clusters provide a platform for co-development between research and industry (e.g., MIAI Grenoble, ANITI Toulouse, Hi! Paris).
· Supercomputing & Data Infrastructure: France is investing in high-performance computing via GENCI and data-sharing platforms for health, mobility, and industry.
· Regulatory Sandboxes: Coordinated by the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) and ARCEP, these testbeds allow businesses to experiment with AI use cases under controlled regulatory conditions.
🤝 Toward a Stronger Franco-Irish AI Partnership in Europe
European cooperation is a cornerstone for building artificial intelligence that is not only high-performing but also ethical, inclusive, and aligned with human values. Within the Horizon Europe programme, France and Ireland stand out as proactive contributors to a wide range of collaborative projects, uniting leading universities, innovative SMEs, research centres, and public authorities. These partnerships are addressing some of the most pressing challenges in AI — from robust and explainable systems to low-carbon architectures and human-centric governance — while reinforcing Europe’s position as a global leader in responsible AI.
Several high-impact Franco-Irish collaborations illustrate this momentum:
· FORSEE (Forging Successful AI Applications for European Economy and Society), coordinated by University College Dublin, collaborates with partners such as Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III. The project redefines what success in AI means by balancing performance with ethical, social, and environmental goals.
· MANOLO, led by CeADAR, Ireland’s Centre for Applied AI, includes several French institutions among its 18 European partners. It develops energy-efficient and trustworthy AI for cloud-edge environments, advancing the state of the art in model compression, adaptive learning, and real-time orchestration.
· Adra-e, coordinated by Inria in France, brings together Irish institutions including Dublin City University and University of Galway. The project plays a vital role in shaping the EU's AI, Data, and Robotics Partnership, bridging policy, innovation, and industrial deployment.
These initiatives reflect the shared vision of France and Ireland: to lead in developing trustworthy, human-centred AI that supports democratic values, scientific excellence, and technological sovereignty. The Horizon Europe framework offers a powerful platform to scale these efforts and foster deeper transnational cooperation.
🎯 Interested in joining or launching a Franco-Irish AI collaboration? We are here to help.
📩 Jean-Michel Portefaix
Expert Innovation & Applied Research, Expertise France – seconded to Enterprise Ireland
📩 Stephen O’Reilly
National Contact Point for Digital, Enterprise Ireland