A structuring device for defense innovation
On February 1, 2021, at the initiative of the Engineering and Expertise Division (DIE) of the General Armament Directorate (DGA) and the Defense Innovation Agency (AID), the Bingo device has gradually emerged as a structuring actor in the defense innovation ecosystem in the Great West region.
Since its inception, 29 innovative companies have been accompanied. The objective of the device is to bring forth technological solutions that meet the operational needs of the armed forces by mobilizing the industrial, scientific, and academic skills of the region.
The new convention aims to continue this dynamic by strengthening the synergies among the various actors of the ecosystem.
Cooperation between military, academic, and industrial actors
The convention brings together several key players from the Ministry of the Armed Forces and the regional innovation ecosystem: – The Engineering and Expertise Division of DGA; – The Cyberdefense Command (Comcyber); – The Digital and Cyber Land Support Command (CATNC); – The Military Academy of Saint-Cyr Coetquidan (AMSCC); – The Ministry Agency for Artificial Intelligence in Defense (Amiad); – The Poool, Rennes-Saint-Malo Technopole.
The convention was signed by various representatives including Frédéric Bouyer, Director of DGA Information Mastery, François-Xavier Dufer, director of the Engineering and Expertise Division of the DGA, General Division Jean-René Couanau, commanding the CATNC, Bertrand Rondepierre, director of Amiad, General Division Emmanuel Charpy, commanding the Military Academy of Saint-Cyr Coetquidan, Gaëlle Aubrée, president of the association Le Poool, and Colonel Frédérick Zimmermann, representing Air General Emmanuel Naegelen, commanding the Comcyber.
In addition to these partners, Bingo also relies on a network of institutional and academic actors such as the Naval Innovation Pole in Brittany (Orion), the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (Inria), the Institute of Electronics and Digital Technology (IETR), as well as several schools and universities in the region.
Accelerating the transformation of innovation into operational capabilities
The Bingo device aims to streamline and accelerate exchanges between the armed forces, which express operational needs, and companies – startups, SMEs, and Midcaps – capable of offering innovative solutions.
By promoting synergies between military, industrial, and scientific actors, Bingo helps capture innovation from the regional economic fabric and transform it into concrete solutions for defense. This collaborative approach allows for the design of comprehensive and integrated technical solutions, tailored to the contemporary challenges of defense and contributing to strengthening the technological and informational superiority of the armed forces.
Innovative companies at the heart of the device
The signing of the convention also highlighted several companies supported by Bingo. During a roundtable discussion with representatives of the Ministry of Armed Forces, several companies presented their technologies and participated in demonstrations.
Among them were: CG wireless, Magellium artal Group, Epsi, Scalian, and Cesta.
These demonstrations illustrated how the innovations developed by these companies can effectively address operational issues identified by the armed forces.
Stringent criteria for candidate companies
To integrate the Bingo device, companies must meet several eligibility criteria. The financial strength of the enterprise is first evaluated to ensure its ability to carry out the project over time. The innovative nature of the proposed solution is also a determining criterion.
Projects must also directly address use cases related to the operational needs of the armed forces. Finally, the scalability capability is taken into account to ensure that solutions can be deployed more broadly if they meet operational expectations.
Technological themes supported by Bingo
The Brittany Innovation Grand Ouest device supports projects in several strategic domains: – Information Systems – Telecommunication Systems – Artificial Intelligence and Big Data – Space – Cyber and Quantum – Components – Detection and Electronic Warfare – Self-protection – Guidance and Navigation / Navwar – Missile Systems
