Start-ups and SMEs in competitiveness clusters perform better

The results of the Motherbase study, commissioned by theAFPC, confirm the structuring role of competitiveness clusters in the French innovation ecosystem for all regional territories.

By supporting startups and SMEs, they help transform research and innovation efforts into economic growth, job creation, and industrial value. Their work is central to strategic sectors and helps strengthen the resilience of the French economy.

Five results confirm the impact of belonging to a cluster and the relevance of the model:

- A massive impact on job creation: with a total of 510,000 jobs in 2025, companies linked to clusters create 1.3 times more jobs than the average.
They attract 1.3 times more talent than their counterparts not linked to clusters, acting as a catalyst for talent.
Finally, the workforce of hub-related start-ups grew by +25% in 2025 (compared to +20% for French start-ups listed by Motherbase): they created more jobs in three years than the average for start-ups in France.

- A key role in financing innovation: start-ups and SMEs linked to clusters raise 2.4 times more funds than the average observed in France. The average amount raised is €6.5 million, compared to €2.7 million for all companies. Since 2023, start-ups and SMEs linked to clusters have exceeded the amounts raised by other players.

- More efficient and resilient companies: companies linked to clusters show above-average resilience. 76% show good or very good growth momentum. More of them are in good health and fewer are at risk of failure: 15% show signs of concern or a real risk of failure, compared with 21% of companies monitored by Motherbase.

- Companies at the heart of the regions: start-ups and SMEs linked to clusters are more present in the regions than is observed for companies as a whole. Only 31% are based in the Paris region, compared with 41% of start-ups and SMEs monitored by Motherbase. They contribute to the spread of innovation throughout France.

- Better connections to major contractors for better integration into value chains: start-ups and SMEs linked to clusters have more connections to major accounts than the average French company. They have an average of 19 connections, which is nearly double the average observed in other companies in the Motherbase panel.

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