A busy yet insightful agenda awaited the 20 companies in Paris as this was the first bootcamp (4-days) of this year´s EUDIS Business Accelerator. The cohort engaged in first workshops, meet their coaches (seasoned industry experts) and the consortium members Starburst, Civitta, Ignity and VTT while participating in the Paris Air Show.
The journey began on Day 1 at the Defence Innovation Agency, where Franck Bilau, Head of the International Cooperation Unit, welcomed the companies. This was followed by a keynote introduction to the EUDIS initiative and the broader EU innovation ecosystem by Kristīne Rudzīte-Stejskala, Team Leader at EUDIS.
Representatives from the french armed forces then took the floor to present some of their key operational challenges.
In the afternoon, companies had also the opportunity to learn more about the European Defence Agency (EDA) with a presentation by Federica Valente, Research, Technology and Innovation Coordinator at EDA.
On Day 2, the cohort visited Groupe ADP, the world leader in airport operations and management. The founders benefited from further insights from the French Defence Agency and the initiatives put in place with the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) to support start-ups, including dedicated teams.
Later, the EUDIS Accelerator leads from Starburst, Civitta, and Ignity met with the founders they will be supporting throughout the 8-month programme. Together, they discussed their needs, objectives, and how the programme will help them achieve their ambitions.
The afternoon was dedicated to a learning expedition on Paris Air Show across the stands of major players in the ecosystem:
- French Ministry of Armed Forces stand, with a presentation of Higher Airspace Operations (HAO) programmes and key defence priorities.
- Paris Space Hub, hosted by the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), featuring ORUS Space. This start-up provides access to high-resolution hyperspectral spatial data by determining with precision unique spectral signatures and interpretations—only accessible with their proprietary processing technologies and nanosatellite imagery constellation.
- The MBDA stand, with insights from Denis Gardin, Director of Innovation and Future Technology, and Frédéric Naccache, Group Head of Research, Technology, and Innovation.
Additionally the cohort hat the opportunity for one-to-one meetings with Guillaume de La Brosse, Head of Unit - Defence Policy and Innovation at DG Defence Industry and Space, kickstarted valuable exchanges with each founder.
Day 3 was one of the busiest days, with a morning session at the Defence Innovation Agency and an afternoon exploring the Paris Air Show.
Éric Autellet, former French Air Force General, opened the day with a keynote on the defence ecosystem, military capabilities, and the dynamics of short-term innovation versus long-term planning cycles.
Olivier Sueur, former French Army officer, entrepreneur, and professor - and now a trainer for EUDIS - shared strategic advice on navigating EU institutions, NATO, and structuring start-ups for success in the defence sector.
In the afternoon, the official opening ceremony of the EUDIS Business Accelerator was held in the presence of Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space at the European Commission. The 20 scale-ups & start-ups had the honour of meeting the Commissioner at the DG-DEFIS stand, followed by a networking cocktail with EUDIS Matchmaking start-ups, corporate stakeholders, and investors, an exciting unveiling of the first cohort.
Finally, on the day 4, Elodie Bonnefond, Managing Director of Défense Angels, spoke about defence investment, while Ilan Rozenkopf, Starburst Head of Strategy and New Ventures led a collaborative defense Go-to-Market session.
Throughout this intense week, the projects connected with companies, end-users, and investors from across the European defence sector. These European start-ups and scale-ups are now embarking on their 8-month journey, benefiting from tailored training, access to testing facilities, and funding opportunities.
On behalf of the consortium, we would like to thank all the partners and speakers who hosted the Business Accelerator and welcomed the cohort.
What’s next? The Tallinn Bootcamp, led by Civitta, will take place from 26–28 August 2025 to dive into the baltic defence ecosystem and leveraging the opportunity to integrate real-life experience from Ukraine.
Interested in learning more about these innovative companies and the initiative?
About the EUDIS Business Accelerator:
The EUDIS Business Accelerator is a strategic programme by the European Commission designed to strengthen Europe’s defence sector by supporting highly innovative start-ups and scale-ups from EU Member States and Norway. The Business Accelerator is part of the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS), a flagship initiative of the European Defence Fund (EDF) that fosters defence innovation and supports the growth of start-ups and SMEs in the EU.