www.gazelles.pme.gouv.fr

The status is open to companies from 20 to 250 employees (or full-time equivalent) that are subject to corporate tax (without necessarily paying it) and that have experienced an increase in their personnel expenses of more than 15% over the last two years consecutively. The French Directorate-General for Business (DGE) estimates that over 4,000 SMEs are eligible for the status out of a total of 60,000 SMEs having between 20 and 250 employees.

This declarative status allows a freezing of income tax; deferment of additional social contributions related to new hires and immediate reimbursement of research tax credit owed by the state. Worthwhile for SMEs that often have cash flow problems, but how does this relate to science PhDs? The companies that have recruited may well invest in R&D and are possibly good targets to send out spontaneous applications. But how do you find them? To date, the DGE has not published a list. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for companies coming out of the stock exchange on the Alternext market created in May 2005. Hires often come in the wake of capital raising efforts.