REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES DEFENCE
Defense and Sovereignty: the Cluster serving the French and European defense industrial and technological base (BITD)
Aerospace Valley has supported a competitive and sustainable defense industry composed of around 19 groups and nearly 340 BITD companies. The objective was to support their transition to a war economy by making production capacity a primary concern while developing industrial skills to ensure France’s strategic independence.
THE ACHIEVEMENTS
Aerospace Valley Cluster’s action, in support of defense innovation involved support filing 15 applications with the Defense Innovation Agency’s “Guichet Unique” or single gateway in compliance with the priority themes identified by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Directions and Services contained in the Defense Innovation Orientation 2023 Reference Document.
Support to obtain funding for research and development capacity projects in Europe was also part of the Cluster’s efforts. Contacts were also developed with Safran, Thalès, Nexter and Airbus with the aim of participating with them in the major European Defense Fund 2023 call for projects.
SELECTION OF WEBINARS AND EVENTS
- SME Export Day 19 April, 2023 at the Toulouse Chamber of Commerce and Industry, jointly organized with the PRIMUS cluster on behalf of the DGA, brought together 85 participants and resulted in over 95 B to B meetings.
- Presentation webinar on defense investment funds, 28 September, 2023: organized in partnership with the DGA, AID and Défense Angels
- Bordeaux Défense Aéronautique on October 18, 2023 on the BA 106: participation in the gathering of companies and youth on the topic of air base resources. The event was attended by nearly 650 participants, including some 300 companies from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
- Journée Annuelle de la Défense, November 29, 2023 in Bordeaux, organized by the Cluster, welcomed 180 participants, and resulted in 220 B to B meetings.
In terms of the diversity of topics addressed (export, investment funds, innovation), the quality of the events organized and the individual support provided for twenty defense subcontracting SMEs and Medium-sized companies in 2023, Aerospace Valley completely fulfilled its role as part of the partnership with the DGA. In the context of a war economy, the DGA knows it can rely on Aerospace Valley to handle missions supporting and assisting the defense industrial and technological base.
DGA/Defense industry Directorate/Industrial guidance department