The study was started on October 27 and will end on December 7, 2022. All the directors of French biotech, medtech, and e-health companies or CROs (Contract Research Organizations) are invited to complete the France Biotech questionnaire. All innovative healthcare SMEs (life sciences or digital health), which have their head offices in France and devote at least 15% of their expenditure to R&D are involved. This year, the secure online form highlights the growing e-health industry in particular.
To prepare this study, France Biotech is working with a number of partners, in particular Bpifrance, Euronext, EY (ex-Ernst Young), and a new partner, Citeline. It is also supported by Enosis, an alliance of 4 health competitiveness hubs (BioValley France, Eurobiomed, Lyonbiopôle Auvergne‐Rhône‐Alpes and Medicen Paris Region) and regional competitiveness hubs and health clusters in general, to forward the survey to its members.
“The Panorama ensures that the sector benefits from excellent visibility, reveals the dynamism of the whole of the French health ecosystem and businesses, their innovations, and also draws attention to the challenges, strengths and weaknesses of the sector. The study highlights proposals for public authorities and is sent to European and international partners to promote the attractiveness of France,” Chloé Evans, Market Research and International Relations Manager at France Biotech.
The Panorama Healthtech focuses on a well-defined area. “It concentrates on SMEs and medium-sized businesses, with less than 500 employees,” said Chloé Evans. “We increased this ceiling a year ago, in line with the increasing maturity of the businesses.”
The questionnaire is made simpler from one year to the next and takes around fifteen minutes to complete. Some key data relating to R&D characteristics are requested (academic environment, industrial groups, amounts invested, etc.), intellectual property, turnover, the size of the company, the number of employees, their distribution, possible recruitment difficulties, real estate requirements, types of products developed, the customers targeted, the markets addressed (France and/or international), the economic model…
Some questions concern funding requirements for businesses, the origin of their funds, any difficulties they may face in raising funds and their cash flow. This year, the study will also relate to the France 2030 plan and how much entrepreneurs understand of the various initiatives in place and the tax advantages that they may be entitled to claim (CICO – French Research Tax Credit, etc.).
The Panorama is also a reference study that allows companies to position themselves relative to their counterparts in the sector, to understand the trends and outlook of the market.
In 20 years, the study has acquired a solid reputation and is now a must-read report for the industry. It is, in addition, the only market study to focus on SMEs, as, according to Chloé Evans, “it is SMEs that are currently driving innovation.”
By providing their data, these businesses know that they are contributing to the report. And they are also mentioned in it. This year, approximately 450 replies are expected. The Panorama will be published in mid-February, at a ceremony to which those SMEs that have replied will be invited. The study will also be presented in the regions with the support of competitiveness hubs and healthcare clusters.