At its fourth seminar for 33 students on 6 and 7 January 2022, the 'Defence and Economic Security' (DSE) major addressed the challenges of new technological frontiers. The seminar took place both face-to-face and by videoconference.
In a digitised, globalised world based on competition, complex technologies are crucial and at the heart of international competition. This module highlights the fact that economic sovereignty and technological mastery are intrinsically linked. It addresses the concept of the technological frontier and the problems of protecting strategic assets, which are intertwined with those of national economic development. The ability and need for European states to participate collectively in global technological competition will also be examined.
On Thursday 6 January, students in the DSE major met at the École Militaire for a series of lectures and round tables.
Madam Minister Delegate for Industry, attached to the Minister for the Economy and Finance, Agnès Pannier-Runacheraddressed the class in a video message broadcast during the seminar.
A first conference, "Major industrial fields and associated challengeswas given by Mr Romain BonenfantHead of the Industry Department at the Direction Générale des Entreprises (DGE).
The morning ended with a round-table discussion on the theme of "What tools for intelligent technological sovereignty? Mr Olivier MarfaingInterministerial coordinator of the batteries strategy at the DGE, Mr Matthieu HubertDirector of Communications and Public Affairs at ACC and Mr Yves Faurisson and Mrs Valérie Bouillon-DelporteGlobal Head of Hydrogen Activities and Hydrogen Ecosystem Director at Michelin.
The afternoon was opened by Bernard FontanaIn his capacity as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Framatome.
The auditors then got together for a committee work session to round off the first day.
Friday 7 January saw another day of conferences and round tables, culminating in a visit to Station F in the Halle Freyssinet.
The day began with a conference by Mr Khalil Rouhanaformer Deputy Director-General of DG CONNECT at the European Commission, on the following topics "The major challenges and European policies.
The morning concluded with a round-table discussion on "The national strategy for quantum", chaired by Mr Neil AbrougQuantum Plan Coordinator at the French General Secretariat for Investment (SGPI) and Mr Charles BeigbederChairman of Audacia and Quantonation.
Students in the DSE major then had the opportunity to visit Station F in the Halle Freyssinet and attend the following presentations:
- Presentation of Station F by Mr Grégoire Martinez ;
- General and specific Startups missions of the Banque de France by Mr Maurice Oms ;
- Presentation of the BLAST Programme - Aviation, Space, Defence and Deeptech by Ms Christelle Astorg-Lepine ;
- MICROSOFT programme and AI expertise by Mr Jean-Renaud Roy and Master Marie-Amélie de Raignac ;
- Presentation and testimonial from DATA SOLUCE: Reconciling hyper-growth and national sovereignty by Mr Nicolas Régnier.
The teams at IHEDN and the students in the DSE major would like to warmly thank all the speakers at this seminar, as well as Mr Grégoire Martinez and Mr Nicolas Regnier, who made it possible for this session to take place under the best possible conditions.
