Sanofi, Capgemini, Generali and Orange announced the creation of a joint venture called “Future4care”, which is Europe’s only health-focused startup accelerator program. The objective of this venture is to stimulate the development of e-health solutions and their go-to-market, for the benefit of both patients and health professionals.

How will it work?

Healthcare providers together with researchers and academics, who drive the success of digital health projects, will be fully integrated into this initiative including hospitals, healthcare institutions, higher education institutions, universities, and patient associations.

The startup selection process is based on two routes: either applications in response to a specific call for projects or a spontaneous application. The first call for projects will be launched in September 2021 around two themes: virtual care using digital tools and personalized care (from diagnosis to treatment).

Future4care is dubbed both a startup accelerator and an Institute providing content on digital health and delivering reference certifications. The Institute is a genuine knowledge centre offering conference programs, conducting constant monitoring of new technologies and their use and connecting members of its community with external experts.

Moreover, from December 2021, Future4care’s startups and partners will have access to a 6,000 square metre space, located in the heart of Paris. This attractive building — which combines work, meeting, reception and networking areas — will bring together a global industry open to national and international partnerships. By housing each startup’s employees, the Future4care BioPark aims to become the European hub that encapsulates progress in digital health.

Startups choosing to join Future4care, benefit from personalized support through a series of thematic Labs: Creative Lab, Medical / Regulatory Lab, Business & Ethics Lab, Data & AI Lab, and Living Lab.

Finally, the entire Future4care offer will also be available online, via a digital exchange platform, allowing it to attract European entrepreneurs.

On the record

“New technologies and data have become essential to innovation in healthcare. France, and more broadly Europe, have the assets needed to develop the e-health solutions of tomorrow. We are convinced that combining the resources of large companies with the agility of startups will lead to the emergence of digital solutions that will create value for patients and to the healthcare ecosystem as a whole,” said Philippe Peyre, Future4care’s Chairman.

Agnès De Leersnyder, CEO Future4care, added: “Future4care is a unique opportunity for startups and, more generally, for all healthcare players to join forces to build the digital health of tomorrow. The support we provide to startups is designed to give talented growth companies the means to successfully plan their go to market and to offer concrete solutions that improve both the patient’s life and the healthcare system. While we will provide all of our services on our digital platform, we will also open a place of work and collaboration in the heart of the BioPark in the centre of Paris. I really look forward to seeing the community grow, with its mix of startups, corporates, scientific experts, academics, patient associations, hospitals and healthcare institutions. All together, they will create “made in Future4care” solutions for patients and healthcare professionals”.

Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister Delegate for Industry, declared: “I welcome the creation of Future4care, which is in line with the government’s priorities to make France a leader in digital health. Indeed, digital innovation is at the heart of our priorities to improve patient care and find more effective therapeutic solutions.”

Future4care’s management team

Philippe Peyre, Chairman Future4care
Philippe Peyre is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and began his career with Bossard. In 1998, he joined Rhône-Poulenc Rorer as Senior Vice President Special Projects and then served as Head of Integration at Aventis Pharma, and as Company Secretary and Senior Vice President, Business Transformation of Aventis. He was appointed Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs following the acquisition of Aventis by Sanofi. He is currently the General Secretary for the Sanofi Group and advisor to the Chairman.

Agnès De Leersnyder, CEO Future4care
Agnès de Leersnyder is a graduate from IEP Strasbourg and ESCP business school. Agnès de Leersnyder also holds a postgraduate degree in International Economic Law from the University of Paris Descartes. In 2001, she began her career with the Vivendi Group where she held various positions before being appointed Group Director in charge of innovation. In 2012, she joined Orange as Director of Strategy and Business Development for Orange France. In 2019, she became Group Strategy Director, developing and deploying the “Engage 2025” project. With 20 years of experience in the Digital and New Technologies sector, Agnès de Leersnyder is very committed to open innovation and cooperation with startups.

Founders committee:

• From Sanofi: Philippe Peyre (Chairman) and Isabelle Vitali
• From Capgemini: Cyril François and Cyril Garcia
• From Generali France: Karim Bouchema and Constance Boulot
• From Orange: Jérôme Berger and Pierre-Louis Biaggi