From 17 to 25 June, the 89e The IHEDN Economic and Strategic Intelligence (IES) course will be held in Marseille. Auditors will spend an afternoon visiting Ifremer's La-Seyne-sur-Mer (Var) site. Vincent Rigaud, acting director of the Mediterranean and Atlantic centres, will be taking the opportunity to explain the missions of this public institute and to look at the growing geopolitical importance of submarine cables, which will be studied by the auditors.
COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT IFREMER, ITS MAIN MISSIONS AND IN PARTICULAR THE ACTIVITIES LINKED TO DEEP-SEA EXPLORATION AND MONITORING?
Ifremer, a public marine research establishment of an industrial and commercial nature for over 40 years, plays an essential role in understanding the oceans and the sustainable development of the blue economy. It works on all marine environments - from the coast to the deep sea - using cutting-edge technologies to collect and analyse data.
Among its strategic missions, the exploration and monitoring of the deep seabed occupies a central place. These activities are supported by the French Oceanographic Fleet, operated by Ifremer, which includes four deep-sea vessels and several manned or robotic deep-sea exploration vehicles capable of operating at depths of up to 6,000 metres. One of the most recent, the AUV Ulyx, stands out for its autonomy and on-board intelligence.
These cutting-edge subsea technologies are designed, developed and operated at La-Seyne-sur-Mer. The site is a true centre of excellence in engineering and innovation for deep-sea exploration systems. It also plays a key role in the implementation of the EXTRAPLAC programme, aimed at extending the French Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and in the management of mineral exploration permits issued by the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
WHAT ARE THE MAIN SCIENTIFIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND STRATEGIC ISSUES INVOLVED IN UNDERSTANDING AND MONITORING THE DEEP SEAS TODAY?
Knowledge and monitoring of the deep seabed is now a major global challenge, at the crossroads of scientific, environmental and geopolitical dimensions. These issues will be highlighted at UNOC 3 in Nice.
From a scientific point of view, the deep sea remains one of the last unexplored territories on the planet. Studying them provides a better understanding of the global functioning of the ocean, extreme ecosystems and deep geological processes. This research is essential for refining climate models, as the deep ocean plays a key role in regulating the climate, particularly through carbon storage and deep ocean circulation.
From an environmental point of view, these environments are home to exceptional biodiversity, often still unknown, but also particularly fragile. Exploring them raises crucial conservation issues, in the face of growing pressure from the exploitation of mineral resources, pollution and the effects of climate change. Rigorous monitoring is essential to anticipate and limit irreversible disruption.
Finally, the deep seabed has become a major strategic challenge. They concentrate critical resources - rare metals, polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, methane hydrates - which are attracting growing interest in the context of the energy transition and tensions over supply chains. Mastering exploration and surveillance technologies is therefore a lever for scientific, economic and diplomatic sovereignty. It is part of a complex international framework, framed in particular by the IAMF, in which States seek to defend their interests while respecting the principles of the Law of the Sea.
The deep seabed is therefore no longer just an object of research: it is now at the heart of the environmental, energy and geopolitical balances of the 21st century.e century.
SUBMARINE CABLES ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS. WHAT ROLE DO THEY PLAY IN THE GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WHY HAVE THEY BECOME A MAJOR STRATEGIC ISSUE?
From Ifremer's point of view, undersea cables, although outside its direct field of intervention, are a perfect illustration of the extent to which the deep seabed has become a key strategic area. Invisible but essential, these infrastructures carry more than 95 % of the world's data traffic, supporting all digital communications, economic exchanges and critical services on a global scale.
Deploying, maintaining and securing them now raises major issues in terms of digital sovereignty, cyber security and geopolitics. Control of undersea routes and landing points is becoming a lever of strategic influence, against a backdrop of growing rivalry between powers.
As an institute operating in the deepest parts of the ocean, Ifremer is particularly attentive to this development. It confirms that the deep sea is no longer just a field of scientific research, but an area of strategic interest, where technological, economic and political issues intersect.
Deep-sea exploration technologies are, by their very nature, dual-use. In this context, the innovations developed at Ifremer have applications in other sectors, notably defence. In addition, the emergence of smart cables "This is a valuable opportunity to continuously observe seismic and geological phenomena.
This is why Ifremer fully welcomes the approach taken by the 89e session on economic and strategic intelligence, which aims to train decision-makers in a global and structured understanding of these issues. A better understanding of the dynamics at work in the deep sea also means better anticipation of risks and defence of France's strategic interests in an increasingly digital world.
IN A CONTEXT WHERE SUBMARINE CABLES CRYSTALLISE TECHNOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC AND GEOPOLITICAL ISSUES, HOW DO YOU SEE THE VALUE OF TRAINING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DECISION-MAKERS IN A STRATEGIC AND STRUCTURED APPROACH TO THESE ISSUES, USING A BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE METHODOLOGY?
From Ifremer's point of view, the growing importance of submarine cables is part of a wider drive for strategic control of maritime areas, which is essential for France's sovereignty. Although Ifremer is not directly involved in the management of these infrastructures, its expertise, particularly in deep-sea operations, enables it to fully grasp the technical and geopolitical challenges they raise.
In a context where the seabed is becoming a theatre of international competition, the ability to understand, anticipate and secure French interests relies on enhanced training for decision-makers, whether public or private. Business intelligence is a valuable tool in this respect, enabling us to decipher the balance of power, identify vulnerabilities and inform strategic choices.
The Economic and Strategic Intelligence (IES) cycle fully meets this objective. It offers a structured overview, combining technological, economic and geopolitical dimensions, and strengthens France's capacity to act in an increasingly sensitive underwater environment.
This increase in collective skills is an essential lever for guaranteeing a credible and sovereign French presence in the major funds.
THE 89TH IES CYCLE AT IHEDN USES SUBMARINE CABLES AS A COMMON THREAD FOR COLLECTIVE ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION. WHAT INSPIRES YOU ABOUT THIS TEACHING APPROACH, WHICH, THROUGH A CONCRETE CASE STUDY, AIMS TO EQUIP STUDENTS TO THINK AND ACT IN AN INCREASINGLY INTERDEPENDENT AND EXPOSED WORLD?
The teaching approach of this course, which focuses on submarine cables, is particularly relevant in a global context marked by increasing technological and geopolitical interdependence. Based on a concrete case study with strong strategic implications, this course enables students to acquire an in-depth understanding of contemporary issues, while practising decision-making in complex environments.
For an institute like Ifremer, whose expertise is rooted in maritime environments, this approach encourages rich, cross-disciplinary exchanges between scientists, engineers, public decision-makers and economic players. It allows us to cross perspectives, compare action logics and reinforce a common culture of anticipation and sovereignty.
Over and above the theme of cables, this simulation fully illustrates the national ambition of the IES cycle: to equip decision-makers with the tools they need to think and act strategically in a world where control of information, infrastructures and resources is a key issue.
The next IHEDN IES cycles :
Le 90e cycle will be held at the École Militaire (Paris) from 7 to 15 October 2025.
Several sessions are already scheduled for 2026:
- 91e cycle: from 20 to 28 January in Paris
- 92e cycle: from 14 to 22 April in Paris
- 93e regional cycle from 26 May to 3 June à Toulouse
- 94e cycle: from 6 to 14 October in Paris
Registrations are now open. These courses are eligible for the CPF.
