What Retis Communication does

Retis Innovation is a French non-profit association (Association loi 1901) founded around 2000 and headquartered in Pau, France, that operates as the national network for territorial innovation ecosystems. The organization serves as the privileged interlocutor for actors implementing public innovation policies on French territories, coordinating 80 active certified member organizations — including technopoles, incubators, and development agencies — whose 800 professionals collectively accompany 10,000 innovative companies. Its core activities include member coordination through a national directory, professional development programs (notably the En Immersion training and the annual Retis Congress), policy advocacy with public institutions, and the coordination of 19 Public Research Incubators (IRP) supporting deeptech startups from French public research.

The network's product surface combines core coordination services with specialized programs and member-affiliated activities. Core services include the member directory, partnership facilitation, and collective representation. Specialized programs include the En Immersion peer-learning sessions (where member organizations host delegations for 48-hour workshops), the Propulse acceleration program co-developed with the Agence de l'Innovation pour les Transports (AIT), and the Ecomasterclass co-developed with ADEME across five seasons. Member-affiliated activities span competitions (ClimateLaunchpad France, VEGEPOLYS VALLEY, Incubateur Descartes, EU TalentOn), business conventions (BioFIT-MedFIT), and regional investment events (Go Invest in Brittany). Services are structured in tiers — Pop Up, Connect, and Connect+ — targeting territorial actors, public institutions, experts/enterprises, and startups/PMEs.

Retis Innovation's business model is non-profit and based on three revenue streams: (1) public funding and annual conventions from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI) for professionalization of public research incubators; (2) recurring membership fees from the 80 member organizations; and (3) sponsorship arrangements with private partners such as Baker Tilly and Startway. Go-to-market is community-led: members are recruited through the website, events (notably the annual Congress), referrals from existing members, and partnerships with privileged partner organizations including Bpifrance, ADEME, AFPC, AdCF, CNER, CURIE, EBN, and others. Distribution channels include organic social (LinkedIn, Twitter/X), email newsletters, the website, and in-person events.

Name

Retis Communication

Legal name

Retis

Website

https://retis-innovation.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Retis Innovation is a French non-profit association and national network connecting 80 territorial innovation actors whose 800 professionals collectively support 10,000 innovative companies through professionalization services, policy advocacy, and ecosystem coordination.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montauban-de-bretagne

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

Revenue model

1. Public funding and subsidies: RETIS receives public funding primarily from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI) through annual conventions and programs supporting the professionalization and promotion of public research incubators and network members.
2. Membership fees: Organizations pay membership fees to join the RETIS network and access services including the member directory, training programs, and collective representation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Retis operates a national membership network of 80 certified territorial innovation actors across France, collectively providing professionalization, networking, visibility, and policy advocacy support to their member organizations and the 10,000 innovative companies they accompany. The network delivers services through membership tiers, structured partnership programs with public institutions, and recurring events such as the annual Congress and En Immersion training sessions.

Product overview

Retis Innovation operates as a French national network of territorial innovation ecosystems, connecting 80 active certified members who support 10,000 innovative companies. The network functions as a platform-plus-services model, combining core coordination services (member directory, partnership facilitation, policy advocacy) with specialized programs (En Immersion training, Congress events) and affiliated member activities (competitions like ClimateLaunchpad, VEGEPOLYS VALLEY, Incubateur Descartes awards; business conventions like BioFIT-MedFIT and Go Invest; and incubation coordination through 19 Public Research Incubators). Services are structured in tiers for territorial actors, public institutions, experts/enterprises, and startups/PMEs through packages called Pop Up, Connect, and Connect+.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retis Network Membership Services A national membership network connecting 80 active certified member organizations who collectively support 10,000 innovative companies across France. Services include member coordination, professional development programs, and ecosystem observation.
• Public Research Incubators Coordination (Incubateurs de la Recherche Publique) Coordination of 19 public research incubators supporting deeptech startups emerging from French public research institutions, providing 18-24 month tailored accompaniment programs.
• Congrès Retis (Retis Congress) Annual national congress bringing together innovation actors from the network for networking, knowledge sharing, and strategic discussions. The 2026 edition is scheduled for June 24-26 in Lille, hosted by Eurasanté.
• En Immersion Program Training and experience-sharing program where network members host delegations for 48 hours of workshops and knowledge exchange on innovation support practices.
• Collaboration Packages (Pop Up, Connect, Connect+) Tiered collaboration packages for experts, startups, and large enterprises to access innovative solutions and qualified contacts in the French innovation ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000 innovative companies accompanied by network members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation (MESRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMESRI is the government ministry responsible for higher education, research, and technology policy. As a historic partner, MESRI supports RETIS through annual conventions and programs dedicated to the professionalization and promotion of public research incubators and network members.
• ADEME (Agence de la transition écologique)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADEME is a government agency supporting ecological transition projects. Partner since many years, ADEME has supported for 5 seasons the Ecomasterclass program dedicated to professionalization of network members and the companies they support in eco-innovation.
• Baker TillyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBaker Tilly, partner-sponsor in 2020, contributes expertise to network members and innovative companies they support, particularly in social innovation and international development.
• StartwayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStartway creates and manages collaborative workspaces for entrepreneurs and large companies across France. Network of more than 30 coworking spaces.
• AIT (Agence de l'Innovation pour les Transports)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIT is the key partner for driving innovation in transport. Together with RETIS, AIT has developed a national program to deploy monitoring, animation, and support for innovation ecosystems in transport.
• AFPCminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• AdCFminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• CNERminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• CURIEminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• CleantechOpen FranceminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• Climate-KICminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• EBN (European Business Network)minorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• EIT InnoEnergyminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• EIT RawMaterialsminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• ENGIE InnovationminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• France UrbaineminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• IASPminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• MaddynessminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• PEXEminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• SEINminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.
• DELSOL AvocatsminorOthersPrivileged partner organization in the RETIS network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Paris&Co: Paris-region economic development and innovation agency that incubates and accelerates startups across thematic programs. Comparable to Retis as a territorial innovation support structure with incubation, but focused on the Paris region rather than pan-France.

Emerging players

• Numa: Paris-based innovation hub running startup programs, corporate innovation, and digital transformation engagements. Comparable to Retis as an innovation support operator, though as a private for-profit entity rather than a federated non-profit association.
• Wilco: French startup accelerator and innovation operator running programs and media for early-stage companies. Comparable to Retis in mission (supporting innovative companies across France), though as a private for-profit accelerator rather than a federated membership association.
• Station F: World's largest startup campus in Paris, hosting incubators, accelerators, and programs under one roof. Comparable to Retis as an organizer of startup programs and ecosystem events, though operating as a private campus rather than a territorial network.

Direct peers

• ANRT (Association Nationale Recherche Technologie): French association supporting research and technology collaboration between public research, industry, and innovation actors. Comparable to Retis as a French non-profit membership association operating at the interface of public research and innovation support.
• EBN (European Business Network): European network of business and innovation centres that supports incubators, accelerators, and innovation actors across the EU. Directly comparable to Retis as a federated, membership-based innovation network with overlapping member base and similar advocacy and professionalization mandate.
• France Biotech: French independent association representing life sciences startups and investors. Comparable to Retis as a French non-profit association providing advocacy, networking, and professionalization services to its member organizations in a specific innovation vertical.
• EU|BIC (European Business and Innovation Centre Network): European Commission-recognized network certifying business and innovation centres worldwide. Directly comparable to Retis because some Retis members already hold the EU|BIC label, and both operate federated membership models around innovation support standards and credentialing.

Broad incumbents

• French Tech: French government-backed mission supporting the French startup ecosystem through branding, international promotion, and community programs. Comparable as a national innovation ecosystem coordination entity with public mandate, but operating as a state-branded initiative rather than a member-funded association.
• Bpifrance: French public investment bank providing financing, guarantees, and innovation support to French companies. Comparable as a privileged French public innovation partner (already a Retis partner), though it operates at much larger scale and as a financial institution rather than a coordination network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/retisinnovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/retis-innovation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Retis Communication