Start in France 2025: Two American Talents in Immersion in Grenoble Alpes
We had the pleasure of welcoming two laureates of the Start in France program — an initiative led by the Embassy of France in the United States and its Office for Science and Technology.
The goal: to introduce deeptech researchers and entrepreneurs to the strengths of the French innovation ecosystem and give them the tools to develop their projects in France.
For the 2025 edition, Yingying Xiang and Gunnar Newquist, Ph.D., chose Grenoble Alpes, the capital of deeptech, for their immersion week from October 20 to 24.
Here, they discovered a territory where research meets industry and scientific collaborations come to life.
A week at the heart of Grenoble Alpes’ innovation ecosystem
The week began with a presentation of the Grenoble Alpes innovation ecosystem and a guided tour of the Scientific Presqu’île, followed by a series of tailored meetings focused on project design, innovation funding, and business creation in France.
The laureates then met with:
- The teams at Le Tarmac, a startup incubator in Meylan
- Dynergie, for innovation funding mechanisms
- Cabinet Oriel Lawyer, to discuss business creation in France
- Le Village by CA, BPI France, and Crédit Agricole, for insights into innovation programs
- Representatives from Minalogic, INRIA, CNRS/LIG, CEA, the Axelera competitiveness cluster, and the MIAI cluster
- along with several local startups encountered throughout the week.
These meetings offered a deep dive into the scientific, entrepreneurial, and regulatory aspects of innovation — while revealing the richness of Grenoble’s vibrant deeptech community.
Between innovation and the art of living
Beyond the stimulating exchanges with local labs and incubators, the week was also marked by moments of conviviality and discovery, set against the colorful backdrop of Grenoble’s autumn.
From the iconic visits to the city center and the Bastille to informal lunches with inspiring entrepreneurs and delicious culinary discoveries, each moment allowed the laureates to experience the Grenoble way of life — open, collaborative, and welcoming.
A transatlantic bridge for deeptech
This immersion perfectly illustrates the mission of the Start in France program: to strengthen synergies between the American and French ecosystems and foster the emergence of high-impact scientific and entrepreneurial projects.
Through this collaboration, Grenoble Alpes reaffirms its position as one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for deeptech research and innovation.
A warm thank you to La Synapse – Start in France, all the partners involved, and of course Yingying Xiang and Gunnar Newquist for an inspiring and forward-looking week.
Contact: info@investingrenoblealpes.com
