The startup scene in France

Nantes Université describes its innovation work as supporting research transfer and innovation partnerships across the territory, particularly in future health and industry. Its innovation teams and subsidiary CAPACITÉS SAS are identified as routes for technology transfer, patent filing, entrepreneurship support, and collaboration between research and industry.

Nantes Université leads a 17-institution innovation partnership covering Loire-Atlantique and Vendée, as labeled on July 10, 2023. Atlanpole reported that seven deeptech projects were incubated on the Nantes university basin from January through May 2025; this is a basin-level figure, not a citywide total.

Nantes has a documented university and health-research company history that includes Biomatlante, Vivalis, and Affilogic, with the research structure describing ties among university, hospital, and Atlanpole Biothérapies partners. Akeneo reports that it was founded in 2013, develops product information and product experience software, and lists a Nantes office; the company reports more than 400 employees worldwide and more than 900 clients.

Atlanpole reports a cumulative total of 270 company formations linked to public research across Pays de la Loire over its history; this is Atlanpole's regional self-reported figure. Atlanpole also reports that Mottronix emerged in 2026 from research at IMN, Nantes Université and CNRS, and that it had supported the research since 2011.