CEA & Playground back deep-tech startups
The collaboration will combine CEA's research expertise with Playground Global's venture-building capabilities to advance next-generation technology companies.
The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and Silicon Valley venture capital firm Playground Global have signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate the commercialisation of deep technology innovations.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between CEA's research institutes, including microelectronics institute CEA-Leti, and Playground's early-stage portfolio companies.
The organisations will also jointly evaluate deep-tech projects and startups emerging from CEA laboratories to support their development and commercialisation.
The partnership spans a range of technologies, including advanced computing, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, energy and biotechnology. It also covers technology scouting, commercialisation strategies and startup acceleration.
Julie Galland, Director of the Technological Research Division at CEA, said the collaboration combines CEA's expertise in microelectronics, photonics and digital technologies with Playground's experience in financing and scaling deep-tech companies.
Pat Gelsinger, General Partner at Playground Global, said the partnership aims to help transform scientific breakthroughs into companies capable of defining new markets and addressing global technological challenges.
The collaboration marks the first step towards a longer-term partnership designed to strengthen the pathway from laboratory research to commercial deployment of next-generation technologies.
