At the heart of tomorrow’s health challenges, the Health Innovation Agency positions itself as an indispensable compass to guide and stimulate innovation. Under the enlightened leadership of Lise Alter, its director general, it embodies the excellence and vision needed to support industry stakeholders in their transformation efforts.
Since its creation in November 2022, The Health Innovation Agency (AIS) has been striving to attract investments, promote French competitiveness, and support future projects in the field of health. Attached to the General Secretariat for Investment, the agency works in collaboration with the ministries of Health, Research, and Industry to oversee the development of the Health Innovation plan, a crucial element of the France 2030 plan.
A Year and a Half of Significant Progress
Lise Alter, the director general of the AIS, can take pride in the progress made in a year and a half. Of a total budget of 7.5 billion euros allocated by the Health 2030 plan, 2 billion have already been invested, covering more than 300 projects. The agency has implemented personalized support for start-ups and continues its calls for projects in four priority areas:
- Biomedicines and bioproduction
- Emerging infectious diseases and NRBC risks (nuclear, radiological, biological, and chemical)
- Digital health
- Innovative medical devices
Focus on Bioproduction
France had a certain delay in the field of bioproduction, but considerable efforts have been made. Today, it ranks second in Europe in terms of biomedicines under development, just behind the United Kingdom. Innovative projects such as those by TreeFrog in cell therapies and Whitelab Genomics on AI for drug targets are being supported. The CellForCure project taken over by Seqens, along with the increase in bioproduction capacity of LFB in Alès, illustrates these advancements.
Decisive Support for Research and Prevention
The AIS is also committed to biomedical research and prevention. Several initiatives, such as the creation of 5 bioclusters, 12 new hospital-university institutes, and 22 chairs of excellence, demonstrate this commitment. These actions aim to accelerate academic research, market access, and industrialization, while integrating innovations into care structures.
International Projects and Territory Attractiveness
Working hand in hand with Business France, the AIS strives to better explain and showcase the French strategy regarding regulation, funding, and welcoming innovation. Projects such as Novo Nordisk in Chartres or Evotec in Toulouse perfectly illustrate this strategy. The AIS also participates in the annual BIO conference in the United States to present France’s overall strategy and demonstrate everything being accomplished on the territory.
Training and Funding for the Sustainability of Innovation
A major challenge remains private funding in the field of biotechnology. To address this shortfall, the AIS has implemented, notably with France Biotech, a training program on investing in biotech, medtech, and digital health start-ups. The goal is to provide better visibility and reassure stakeholders regarding this type of investment, highlighting the stakes and opportunities.
In conclusion, the Health Innovation Agency plays a crucial role as a strategic compass to guide health innovation in France. Under the leadership of Lise Alter, it continues to transform the healthcare landscape through strong initiatives and close collaboration with various national and international stakeholders.
