The official results for the Sixth Call for Projects of the Fonds Unique Interministériel (FUI, single interministerial fund) have just been announced. The Ile-de-France competitive cluster positioned "in the heart of the digital revolution" saw 8 of its projects awarded funding, meaning a grand total of 101 backed projects. Once again, the call for projects features very goods results for small businesses. Out of the eight selected projects, four are sponsored by small businesses (Egylis, Open Wide, Simpoe and Wallix). As for the last FUI call for projects, more than 36% of the public aid allocated to the selected projects are for small businesses. Quite a change as this figure was only 7% during the first call for projects in 2005.
For the cluster, the other striking feature of the call for projects is the commitment to the setup of platforms to demonstrate and deploy its technological skills and expertise. This enterprise will be materialized with the funding of one platform called Neptune. The project involves setting up a test platform for mobile high-speed in the Ile-de-France region. Neptune, a true "test center", will be rolling out an open infrastructure representing future generation wireless networks.
The platform, which will be deployed at the Saclay strategic site, will have a dense and varied user panel. It will be open to small businesses, builders, operators, local authorities, schools and universities and to local, national and international projects, which will be able to test, validate and receive feedback on new technologies, new services and uses, before the commercial opening of similar networks. For all the players, the access to the test center will be an opportunity to fine-tune services and their economic models before they are marketed, thus providing them with greater maturity and a sharp competitive edge.
