DeepTech Forum Sophia Antipolis #2: A Look Back at a Day of Ecosystem Building, Embracing Failure, and Shaping the Future
On June 3, we were invited to participate in the second edition of the DeepTech Forum Sophia Antipolis, organized by students in the Specialized Master’s in Deeptech Entrepreneurship and Innovation program at Mines Paris-PSL, in collaboration with Dynergie. It was a day dedicated to the ecosystem, open dialogue, and collective reflection on the future of disruptive innovation in the region. With a booth on the Pierre Laffitte Campus, we took advantage of the day to meet the Côte d’Azur deeptech community, share our approach to product cybersecurity, and talk with those who drive the ecosystem on a daily basis: entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, support organizations, students, and public sector representatives. At the booth, Nicolas conducted a series of demos of the MOABI platform, discussed our client use cases, and engaged in broader conversations about the role of a deep tech entrepreneur. A direct and rigorous approach to disruptive innovation The tone of the event, set from the outset by its patron Emilie Royère, director of Eurobiomed, did not seek to sugarcoat reality. This second edition chose to address disruptive innovation head-on, through candid and at times uncomfortable discussions. The most memorable panel discussion of the afternoon, titled “Failing in Deep Tech: Luxury, Choice, or Waste?”, clearly illustrated this approach. Failure in deep tech often remains a taboo subject, even though it is an integral part of the journey. Being able to discuss it publicly, with entrepreneurs who have weathered the storm and investors willing to speak candidly, is exactly the kind of conversation the ecosystem must be able to have if it is to mature. Later, the joint presentation by Euronext and Enogia traced the concrete path of a deep-tech company, from fundraising to its initial public offering. This is a rare journey in the French deep-tech innovation landscape and a valuable case study for the founders in attendance who are looking toward the long term. Sophia Antipolis 2035: Moving Beyond Denial The afternoon concluded with regional foresight workshops focused on the future of Sophia Antipolis and the French Riviera by 2035. We participated in the first workshop, whose topic left no room for complacency: Sophia has missed the deep tech curve. Why, and how can this be corrected? A direct, almost provocative statement that had the merit of sparking a frank discussion among students from Mines, active entrepreneurs, and local stakeholders in the technology park. Several key themes emerged from the discussions: the historical difficulty in transforming regional scientific excellence into industrial projects, the scarcity of the patient capital required for deep tech, competition from other better-structured French and European ecosystems, and the need to build stronger bridges between laboratories, specialized training programs, and established manufacturers. The exercise was not intended to produce an action plan. Its value lay elsewhere: collectively acknowledging the reality of the situation, without trying to sidestep it, is likely the prerequisite for any serious course correction. What we took away from the day Beyond the conferences and workshops, it was the quality of the informal exchanges that left a lasting impression on us. Whether at the booth, over coffee, or during the closing cocktail reception, we had lengthy conversations with founders who shared our concerns about growth, funding, recruitment, and the challenges of long-term tech entrepreneurship. A true convergence of perspectives on what it means to build a deeptech company in France today. We left the Pierre Laffitte campus having forged connections, identified follow-up projects, and with a strengthened conviction that this type of event, on a human scale and resolutely ecosystem-oriented, is essential to the maturation of regional deeptechs. A big thank you to the students of the Specialized Master’s in Deeptech Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Mines Paris-PSL, who designed and organized this event with a sense of community and a level of seriousness rarely seen at this stage of their education. Thanks also to Dynergie for its support, to Emilie Royère for sponsoring this edition, and to all the speakers and participants who made this day so enriching. See you next year, we look forward to it.
