30 essential terms
Clear, neutral definitions of the terms you will encounter in our missions: transformation, architecture, public funding, training, sustainability.
- Software architecture
- Structured design of an information system: choice of components, technologies, integration modes, evolution rules. Architecture precedes development and conditions solution longevity.
- Custom solution
- Software application designed specifically to address a business challenge that no off-the-shelf tool covers sufficiently.
- CSRD — Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
- EU directive 2022/2464 imposing detailed extra-financial reporting (ESG performance) on a growing number of companies. Progressive application: large since 2024, listed mid-caps and SMEs by stages until 2028-2029.
- Qualiopi
- French national quality certification for vocational training providers, created by Loi Avenir Professionnel (2018), mandatory for public funding access since 1 January 2022. Audit every 3 years.
- CII — Crédit d'Impôt Innovation
- French Innovation Tax Credit for SMEs (under 250 employees, < €50M revenue or < €43M balance sheet) engaging expenses to design new product prototypes or pilot installations.
- CIR — Crédit d'Impôt Recherche
- French Research Tax Credit for companies engaging R&D expenses per the OECD Frascati Manual.
- REV3
- Hauts-de-France regional programme for the third industrial revolution (inspired by Jeremy Rifkin). Funds and supports business transformation in the region.
- France Num
- National French programme for digital transformation of small and medium businesses. Network of referenced "Activators" provides diagnostics and operational support.
- OPCO — Opérateur de Compétences
- French paritarian skills operator funding vocational training for branch employees. Eleven OPCOs in France (Atlas, 2i, EP, etc.).
- Horizon Europe
- EU framework programme for research and innovation, ~€95B over 2021-2027. Funds transnational consortium projects. SMEs eligible via "EIC Accelerator" and "Pathfinder" instruments.
- FEDER — European Regional Development Fund
- EU structural fund reducing regional development gaps. Co-funds territorial projects: innovation, digital transition, low-carbon economy. Managed at French regional level.
- POC, MVP, API, ERP, CRM
- Standard tech terms: Proof of Concept (functional mockup), Minimum Viable Product, Application Programming Interface, Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management. See the complete French glossary for full definitions.
For the complete French glossary of 30 terms, see /glossaire/. The English version above presents key terms relevant to international readers.