The Ministry of Defense is focusing its strategy around disruptive technologies. The Defense Innovation Agency (AID) will host the first Quantum Forum dedicated to defense applications at the Ecole Polytechnique on April 17, 2026, an initiative aimed at enhancing French technological sovereignty.
Quantum technology emerges as a key strategic leverage in an international context marked by increased technological rivalries. High-performance computing, next-generation sensors, secure communications: these technologies offer crucial prospects for military capabilities.
The Ministry of Defense aims to structure a national ecosystem capable of addressing these challenges. This forum is part of a broader dynamic aiming to strengthen French strategic autonomy by mobilizing academic research, industry, and defense stakeholders.
Organized under the auspices of the AID, the event will bring together actors from the defense industrial and technological base (BITD), as well as civilian companies, researchers, and investors. The objective is clear: fostering synergies and accelerating the scaling of quantum innovations.
Endorsed by the Ministry of Defense, the meeting will be attended by key figures in defense innovation policy. It will include the Delegate General for Armament and the leaders of AID and Ecole Polytechnique, demonstrating alignment between strategic state, research, and industry.
The program includes conferences, workshops, roundtable discussions, and operational meetings between various military services and their partners. The ambition is to establish a genuine quantum defense sector capable of competing with major technological powers.
Beyond technological demonstrations, this forum signifies a milestone in building a coherent industrial policy around quantum technology. The goal is twofold: capturing innovations from civilian research while directing their development towards strategic uses.
According to the AID leadership, investing in these disruptive technologies is essential for France to remain competitive globally. By fostering an ecosystem of excellence, the state aims to position itself on tomorrow’s technological standards starting today.
