Call for applications – NETVA

The Service for Science and Technology (SST) of the French Embassy in the United States is pleased to announce the opening of the call for applications for the edition 2026 of the NETV-Start in America programme The NETVA Program – Synapse from 30 September 2025 until 9 November 2025 (minuit, Paris time) via the application file NEVAT 2026 application form .

Organised by the Service for Science and Technology (SST) of the French Embassy in the United States, with the support of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, NETVA aims to strengthen the French ecosystem of Deeptech, by supporting about 15 of the French startups early-stage, from scientific research and operating in all fields of technology, such as health, artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum, biotechnology, NICT, agriculture or energy.

Previously known as the New Technology Venture Accelerator (NETVA), this programme is now part of the Synapse initiative of the French Embassy in the United States for the acceleration of Deeptech on the transatlantic axis launched in November 2023. Since 2010, the NETVA programme has provided unique opportunities for young French companies in Deeptech, through the Embassy's network and the learning programme based on a three-pronged pedagogical approach: learning good business practices across the Atlantic, establishing technological partnerships, and developing opportunities for internationalisation.

The NETVA – Start in America program is aimed at early-stage projects. The companies will be selected by a jury of French and American experts in January-February 2026. The winners of the competition will participate in a personalized program in 3 phases:

1. A training seminar in Paris, in March-April 2026, composed of training workshops by French and American innovation experts to enable the winners to better understand the specificities of North American innovative ecosystems and prepare for their immersion in the United States;
2. A one-week immersion stay in the United Statesin the spring of 2026, in one of the new ecosystems the most dynamic of the United States (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and Washington D.C.), represented on the map below.
3. Post-programme monitoring

NETVA is one of the few startup support programs that offers a week of immersion in the United States rich in personalized appointments and strategic connections.

By way of illustration,n 2025, NEVAT mobilized for the 15 winners startups more than 350 key players across 9 American ecosystems, including 88 companies, 87 accompanying structures (incubators, accelerators, chambers of commerce, etc.), 163 researchers and scientists. In total, more than 220 tailor-made appointments were organised to connect French startups to American innovation networks.

During the NETV selection process, particular attention will be paid to the match between the startup industry and the respective strengths of the open ecosystems summarized in the above map.