This week, on October 2 and 3, 2024, the 1st Luso-French Defence Industries Forum took place in Paris.
The event was organised by AED Cluster Portugal, the Portuguese Embassy in France, the Directorate-General for National Defence Policy, the Directorate-General for National Defence Resources, the General Staff of the Armed Forces, aicep Portugal Global, idD Portugal Defence, the Direction Générale de l’Armament (DGA), the Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIFAS), the Groupement des Industries de Construction et Activités Navales (GICAN) and the Groupement des Industries Françaises de Défense et de Sécurité Terrestres et Aéroterrestres (GICAT).
AED Cluster Portugal’s participation is part of the Global Connect project, co-funded by Compete 2030 and FENDER.
These days were organised with the aim of continuing to deepen the bilateral relationship between Portugal and France in the field of defence industries, encouraging the sharing of information on the acquisition programmes of the two countries, the integration of entities into supply chains and the establishment of partnerships and consortia with a view to preparing applications to the European Defence Fund, providing visits to French companies and networking opportunities.
In this context, it is important to note that companies from the other sectors of the AED Cluster Portugal, Aeronautics and Space can be Defence suppliers, which is why it is important to mention them in the context of the Global Connect project.
The event brought together 50 companies and technology centres from Portugal and France. AED Cluster Portugal not only took part in organising the event, but also had the privilege of actively participating in it, represented by José Neves, President of AED, Ivo Vieira, Vice-President and Coordinator of the Space Commission, Rui Santos, General Director and Raul Lourenço, Project Technician.
On the first day, our representatives visited the Safran and Exail facilities, where they received an exceptional welcome and also took the opportunity to discuss cooperation with the national ecosystem.
That same day there was also a networking dinner with the Consulate General of Portugal in Paris, which went marvellously well and was an excellent opportunity to exchange possible partnerships.
This event was a success and we hope it was the first of many!