Provençal start-ups will represent France's world-renowned IoT sector at CES

With 238 companies exhibiting, France will have the third-largest national delegation at CES (Consumer Electronic Show), the internationally renowned consumer electronics trade show that will be held in Las Vegas from January 5 to 8, 2017. That number includes some 40 Provençal start-ups that will make the journey to show off the technological daring and creativity of French Tech. France will be the best-represented country at Eureka Park, a space dedicated exclusively to start-ups, where nearly 37% of exhibitors will be French. As in previous years, these young talents are preparing to create a sensation. Their goal is to develop international visibility and win new markets, especially in the IoT sector, where France stands out thanks to the support of major companies that are working to make our everyday life more connected.

In exciting news, France's start-up contingent in the Eureka Park section at the 2017 edition of CES will exceed those from the United States, Israel, South Korea and even China. This record-setting level of participation is the result of the initiative launched in 2013 by the French government to gather its talents under the collective label French Tech and help them grow faster.

For proof of the program's effectiveness, look no further than the value of financial transactions generated by French start-ups in 2016 (estimated at €1.63 billion as of mid-December) and the doubling in two years of the average individual transaction, which is now €5.61 million according to the exclusive index from Capital Finance (Groupe Les Echos).

The CES is a can't-miss event for these young businesses to raise their profile and secure international growth. After attending the trade show and receiving an award there, Ween, a start-up based in Aix-en-Provence, raised over $2 million in January 2016 to market its connected thermostat.

A total 23 start-up from the Aix-Marseille French Tech sector will participate in CES 2017.  Many of them are in the Internet of Things market, joining other French start-ups that cover the sector's full value chain, from products and applications to services, connectivity and more. With the backing of major French companies like Engie, La Poste and large retailers, a whole French digital ecosystem is taking shape.

The Internet of Things in Provence

Because exponential growth is expected in the IoT market (according to the Gartner firm, 20.8 billion objects will be connected by 2020), the Big Data industry will need new technological developments, whether they deal with cloud storage or data analysis.

Products and services will also have to double down on security. This is a priority for Provence's leaders in electronic systems, including the international group STMicroelectronics and its Secure Microcontrollers Division based in Rousset. To protect devices connected to the Internet of Things, in June 2016, the industrial leader launched the STSAFE-A100 module, which is certified to the strictest security standards and has already garnered acclaim for its ease of integration and low cost.

Each year, STMicroelectronics showcases its offerings at CES in a private showroom where it invites customers to come discover its latest innovations to enhance uses and create ever more immersive user experiences.

This year, Provence Promotion is giving a presentation on the IoT industry in France because the Provence region is a worldwide leader in data security. The lecture, scheduled for January 6, will enable companies to identify development and partnership opportunities.  In 2015, 28% of the companies that received support from Provence Promotion to set up shop in Provence were involved in the digital economy.

A true culture of electronic data protection has emerged in Provence around the big players, but Provençal start-ups are also specializing in this field, setting their sights on businesses and individuals. For example, KeeeX, a member of the SCS cluster*, is developing a brand-new blockchain security technology for file exchange. Meanwhile, Sonora Labs is developing LOLA Box, which is the equivalent of an eco-friendly, secure home datacenter. And in Marseille, the start-up IProtego has designed Osculteo, the first platform devoted to digital identity protection. All three will have stands at Eureka Park.

Finally, remember that the Aix-Marseille-Provence region is currently undergoing a veritable connectivity revolution that is transforming it into an international hub with 20,000 kilometers of submarine cables linking France to southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

* The global competitiveness cluster SCS (Secure Communicating Solutions) in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region is one of the best European clusters. It just earned the prestigious Gold Label from the European Commission for the second-straight year. The cluster is also an active member of the European Alliance of IoT Innovation.