AFNeT

What AFNeT does

AFNeT (Association Française pour le Numérique de l'Entreprise et de la Filière) is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) operating as both a Think Tank and Do Tank focused on accelerating the digital and ecological transition of French industrial sectors. Founded approximately four decades ago (firmographic sources cite 1982; an alternate internal source cites 1986), the organization is headquartered in Paris with a small staff of 1-10 employees and serves a cross-sectoral membership that spans aeronautics, rail, nuclear, automotive, construction, mining and metallurgy, water, agro-food, health, and fashion/luxury. The membership includes major French industrial enterprises (Airbus, EDF, Safran, Dassault Aviation, MBDA, Orano, Eramet, Alstom, SNCF, Schneider Electric, Renault Group, Naval Group, Thales), technology vendors (Dassault Systèmes, Siemens, IBM), construction firms (Egis, Eiffage), and public institutions.

The organization's product surface spans annual events (Boost Industrie launched 2013, Standards Day launched 2016, Cas Industriels, and Rencontres Pédagogiques launched 2022), the ATLAS collaborative program covering 8 technical domains (Systems Engineering, PLM, Future Production, Logistics and Supply Chain, Maintenance, Digital Twins, Data and Infrastructures, BIM), interoperability forums (MBx-IF, CAE-IF, CAx-IF, PDM-IF, EWIS-IF, SE-IF), and technical deliverables including STEP AP242 benchmarks, the EasySTEP Viewer tool, and the BoostAero XML standard. Core technical work focuses on standardization and interoperability frameworks including ISO 10303 STEP AP242, with AFNeT contributing to or coordinating 10+ ISO standards. The organization maintains structural partnerships with AFNOR, prostep ivip, PDES Inc., GS1 France, Gaia-X, BuildingSMART France, GIFAS, GIFEN, and sector-specific strategic committees (CSF).

The business model is membership-based with tiered annual dues scaled by company size and category (large enterprise, SME, institution), supplemented by event sponsorship revenue from major annual gatherings (Boost Industrie draws 500+ industrial professionals; Standards Day brings 200+ standardization experts). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization operates as an association loi 1901 governed by a Board of Directors, currently led by President Jean-Pierre Souzy (since 2024, succeeding Pierre Faure) and Vice-President/Treasurer Ludovic Donati. Geographic scope is primarily France-focused with selective international cooperation agreements extending influence into European and transatlantic standards ecosystems.

Name

AFNeT

Legal name

AFNeT

Website

https://afnet.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AFNeT is a French non-profit Think Tank and Do Tank that drives industrial digital transformation through cross-sector standardization, the ATLAS collaborative program, and annual events, serving major French industrial enterprises, SMEs, IT vendors, and public institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AFNeT operates as a membership association with annual dues based on company size and tier (grille d'adhésion). Members include large enterprises, SMEs, IT vendors, and institutions across industrial sectors.
2. Event Sponsorship: Major annual events (Boost Industrie, Standards Day, EWIS Day, AP242 Day) generate sponsorship revenue from industrial companies and technology vendors seeking visibility and engagement with the ecosystem.
3. Deliverables and Publications: Access to deliverables, white papers, technical reports, and presentations is provided to members. Some specialized content may be available through specific membership tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFNeT is a French non-profit think tank and do-tank association that drives digital transformation of industrial sectors through collaborative projects, events, and knowledge products. It organizes industry events (Boost Industrie, Standards Day, Rencontres Pédagogiques, Cas Industriels), manages the ATLAS collaborative program covering eight technical domains, produces deliverables (white papers, benchmarks, technical reports), and coordinates standardization initiatives including STEP AP242 and interoperability forums for French and European industry.

Product overview

AFNeT (Association Française pour le Numérique de l'Entreprise et de la Filière) is a non-profit think tank and Do Tank association founded nearly 40 years ago, dedicated to accelerating digital and ecological transition of French industrial sectors. The organization operates through two interconnected structures: a Think Tank organizing events and working groups (Boost Industrie annual colloquium, Standards Day, Cas Industriels, Rencontres Pédagogiques), and a Do Tank executing collaborative projects. The Do Tank manages the ATLAS Programme organizing work across domains (Systems Engineering, PLM, Future Production, Logistics/Supply Chain, Maintenance, Digital Twins, Data/Infrastructures, BIM) and oversees interoperability forums (MBx-IF, CAE-IF, CAx-IF, PDM-IF, EWIS-IF, SE-IF) focused on STEP and related standards. Key technical deliverables include STEP AP242 Benchmarks, EasySTEP Viewer tool, and BoostAero XML standard. AFNeT produces knowledge products (white papers, technical reports, strategic plans) and facilitates standardization initiatives in collaboration with partners like AFNOR, prostep ivip, and various industrial federations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Boost Industrie: Annual conference (Etats-Généraux) dedicated to digital and ecological transformation of industrial sectors, launched in 2013.
• Standards Day
• Cas Industriels
• Rencontres Pédagogiques
• Programme ATLAS

Products and services

• Boost Industrie Annual colloquium presenting a systemic vision of digital transformation of French industry, integrating ecological and energy transition topics since 2023. Attracts 500+ industrial professionals annually.
• Standards Day Annual gathering of francophone standardization experts to share knowledge around standards for French industry digital transformation, held at AFNOR headquarters. Brings together 200+ standardization experts annually.
• Programme ATLAS Collaborative program organizing work around eight domains: Systems Engineering, PLM, Future Production, Logistics and Supply Chain, Maintenance, Digital Twins, Data and Infrastructures, BIM. Has produced 72+ deliverables including ISO standards, benchmarks, position papers, and strategic plans.
• Rencontres Pédagogiques Educational meetings launched in 2022 providing foundational knowledge on topics such as circular economy, data sharing legal issues, and Industry 5.0. Format is 1.5-hour educational sessions.
• Cas Industriels Events sharing real-world industrial use cases and analyzing concrete applications to understand challenges and best practices in industrial sectors. Part of the lifecycle of topics worked on by AFNeT.
• Do Tank Projects Collective industrial projects including SE/DTw Roadmap, STEP AP242 Edition 5, MBx-IF, CAE-IF, CAx-IF, PDM-IF, EWIS-IF, and Systems Engineering Interoperability Forum. Operational execution arm of AFNeT.
• Livrables (Deliverables) Publications including insights, standards work, technical reports, benchmarks, position papers, strategic plans, presentations, and conference replays. Accessed through members-only digital portal at files.afnet.fr.
• EasySTEP Viewer Generic AP242 XML STEP Viewer with optimized 3D tessellation viewer for visualization and transformation of STEP and ReqIF files. Open-source tool for interoperability testing and demonstration.
• STEP AP242 Benchmarks Public status reports of STEP AP242 functionalities available for operational use, providing benchmark assessments of standard capabilities across interoperability forums.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72+ deliverables produced through ATLAS Program including standards, benchmarks, and technical reports
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• AFIS (Association Française d'Ingénierie Système)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFIS (French chapter of INCOSE) co-initiated the Systems Engineering Interoperability Forum (SE-IF) with AFNeT. Collaborates on systems engineering standards, MBSE adoption, and interoperability testing for French industry.
• AFNORcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural partnership for Standards Day events held at AFNOR headquarters in Saint-Denis. Shared vision for standards as tools of industrial performance. AFNOR serves as the French national standards body and co-develops technical specifications with AFNeT.
• prostep ivipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation agreement signed for MBx Interoperability Forums. Jointly organizes annual AP242 Day events. Prostep ivip is a German association focused on product data standardization; the MoU accelerates MBx translator development and ensures user requirements are met.
• PDES, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based organization (Product Data Engineering services) partnered with AFNeT and prostep ivip through a Memorandum of Understanding for closer cooperation in MBx Interoperability Forums.
• GS1 FrancekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on Digital Product Passport initiatives, supply chain traceability, and product identification standards. GS1 provides global identification standards while AFNeT contributes industrial use cases and implementation frameworks.
• Gaia-XkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFNeT and ATLAS have been mobilising resources on Gaia-X project for 2+ years, considering it a key element of European competitiveness. AFNeT contributes to data space architecture for industrial sectors (Manufacturing-X, Digital-ter).
• BuildingSMART FrancekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on BIM standards, IFC specifications, and digital twins for construction/infrastructure sectors. BuildingSMART France contributes open BIM standards while AFNeT provides cross-industry interoperability perspectives.
• GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace industry federation collaborates with AFNeT on PLM standards, BoostAeroSpace platform, continuity numérique programs, and aerospace supply chain modernization.
• GIFEN (Groupe des Industries Françaises de la Filière Nucléaire)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNuclear industry federation works with AFNeT on nuclear digital transformation, BIM for nuclear, data spaces, and standardization strategies for the nuclear sector.
• Supply Chain +keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of Supply Chain + reference framework for supply chain management standards. AFNeT contributes interoperability expertise and cross-sector coordination to the initiative.
• Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA)supportingTechnology or IntegrationGerman association focused on digital twin standards and implementations. Collaboration on OPC-UA companion specifications and digital twin interoperability frameworks.
• France IndustriekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational French industry association collaborates on industrial policy, digital transformation strategy, and cross-sector initiatives represented at events like Boost Industrie.
• CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench atomic energy commission collaborates on AI standards, digital twins, cybersecurity for industry, and R&D projects within ATLAS program domains.
• MINnD (Maison de l'Ingénierie Numérique Durable)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on digital engineering for infrastructure, BIM, and digital twins for construction/civil engineering sectors. MINnD contributes project management and methodology expertise.
• AFNeT ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOperating entity and Do Tank implementation arm of AFNeT ecosystem. Provides technical expertise, project management, deliverable development, and operational coordination for ATLAS program and working groups.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Industrial Digital Twin Association (IDTA): German association advancing digital twin standards and OPC-UA companion specifications. Direct peer to AFNeT in the digital-twin and OPC-UA standardisation space; collaborates through AFNeT's ATLAS Digital Twin domain.
• PDES, Inc. US-based organisation providing product data engineering services and STEP standards development. Direct peer to AFNeT in the trilateral MBx Interoperability Forum partnership; comparable function (coordination of CAD/CAE/PLM interoperability) in the North American market.
• AFIS (Association Française d'Ingénierie Système): French chapter of INCOSE, co-initiator of the Systems Engineering Interoperability Forum (SE-IF) with AFNeT. Direct peer in the French systems-engineering standards ecosystem with overlapping membership and complementary focus on MBSE adoption.
• Open Industry 4.0 Alliance: Alliance of industrial companies and vendors advancing Industry 4.0 interoperability standards. Comparable cross-stakeholder association model addressing similar digital manufacturing and interoperability problems across European industry.
• prostep ivip: German association focused on product data standardization and PLM interoperability. Closest direct peer: AFNeT and prostep ivip co-organise the AP242 Day and MBx Interoperability Forums under a signed MoU, addressing the same STEP-based standards from a German perspective.
• BuildingSMART International: International organisation developing open BIM standards (IFC). Direct peer to AFNeT's BIM domain within ATLAS; collaborates on construction/infrastructure interoperability with comparable cross-stakeholder standards-development model.

Others

• GS1 France: French branch of the global GS1 standards organisation for product identification and supply-chain traceability. Strategic partner of AFNeT on Digital Product Passport and supply-chain interoperability; adjacent standards body rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Manufacturing-X: German-led industrial data space initiative under the Catena-X umbrella. Emerging player in industrial data spaces where AFNeT is also contributing via Gaia-X; potential competitor for industrial data-space mandate and funding.

Regional players

• GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales): French aerospace industry federation, a strategic partner of AFNeT. Regional industry-federation peer with overlapping membership (Airbus, Dassault, Safran, Thales) but addressing sector-specific (aerospace) rather than cross-sectoral standards.

Broad incumbents

• INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering): Global systems-engineering body that AFNeT's partner AFIS is the French chapter of. Larger, broader incumbent in the same domain; addresses systems engineering as a discipline globally, whereas AFNeT focuses on French industrial interoperability applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afnet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AFNeT