From 19 to 22 May 2026, the Côtes-d'Armor hosted the first week of the 250e session in the Brittany region of the IHEDN, focusing on major strategic issues in national defence and security.
The opening day, held at the Conseil départemental in Saint-Brieuc in the presence of the Prefect of Côtes-d'Armor, was the occasion to open this exceptional session - the 250th in the history of the Côtes-d'Armor region.e of its kind - before fifty-two auditors from the public and private sectors, both civilian and military. Ambassador Pierre Lévy, Chairman of the IHEDN Board of Directors, gave his views on the major trends in the contemporary world, drawing on his experience as French ambassador in a Russia at war.
The week's regional dimension was highlighted by INSEE Bretagne, which provided a socio-economic overview of the region, an essential prerequisite for understanding local defence and resilience issues. A visit to the Côtes-d'Armor departmental fire and rescue service gave the audience a practical insight into the crisis management and civil protection systems deployed in the region.
The week also included a closer look at the economic fabric of the Costarmoric region, with a visit to the European leader in armouring and mobile protection, Centigon France, in Lamballe. The auditors then discovered the Technopole Anticipa in Lannion, an ecosystem unique in France for the density of its innovative companies in digital technology, photonics and cybersecurity, more than twenty of which work directly for national defence.
A memorial sequence at the Collège Le Braz in Saint-Brieuc, linked to the history of the 71st arrondissemente Infantry Regiment, was a reminder of how deeply rooted the military is in Brittany's identity.
This year's commemoration takes on a special dimension. As part of the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the IHEDN, the 250e session in the Brittany region inaugurates a new partnership with the Order of the Liberation: students are invited to choose the name of their class from among the Companions of the Liberation. This innovation anchors this anniversary session in the memory of those who risked their lives to forge France's sovereignty and freedom - values that have been at the heart of the IHEDN's mission since it was founded in 1936.
Enriched by this first week of demanding training, the auditors are due to arrive in Brest on Tuesday 26 May for a week's internship dedicated to discovering our armed forces and France's defence system.
