The Group of Construction Industries and Naval Activities (GICAN), gathering more than 300 companies, has just launched a call for expressions of interest (AMI) for its SEAstart start-up accelerator program. This is the fourth edition of the initiative aimed at selecting and supporting innovative young companies and SMEs for 18 months, to help them integrate into the French naval industrial fabric, both civil and military. This year, the focus of the AMI is on dual-use companies.
GICAN announced on Wednesday, April 15, the launch of this new call for expressions of interest, with companies having until May 27 to apply. For this fourth edition of SEAstart, GICAN partners with Dual Boost, a European training program dedicated to dual-use companies. Applications are open until May 27, 2026.
In the context of the accelerated transition of the maritime industry, SEAstart positions itself in response to a dual observation: – Industries increasingly resort to external innovation to meet the demands of their markets, – Start-ups, on the other hand, drive technological developments but often overlook their maritime or dual applications.
Since its launch in 2019, SEAstart has contributed to the structuring of the naval innovation ecosystem by facilitating the integration of new technological solutions into the French maritime industrial base. It acts as a real link between the needs of industries and markets, and the innovation capabilities of start-ups, based on three pillars: – Technologies and solutions for the naval and maritime industry (shipyards / equipment manufacturers): integrating and modernizing the supply chain; – Technologies and solutions for the maritime sector (Shipowners / Navy / Ports / Shippers / Marine energies): contributing to the value proposition of the industry; – Adapting new technologies to the naval industrial sector and the marine environment.
About 40 start-ups have already benefited from the program in the first three campaigns, including entities that have become essential references, demonstrating SEAstart’s ability to support these companies in conquering new markets.
The AMI SEAstart #4 primarily targets start-ups and young companies positioned on the major innovation axes of the industry defined in the CORIMER roadmaps: – GreenShip with solutions related to decarbonizing ships and managing their impacts throughout their lifecycle – SmartShip, with digitization, automation, drone technology, cybersecurity, and embedded intelligence – SmartYard, with tools and processes contributing to the industrial competitiveness of shipyards and factories – Future of Offshore Industry with innovations related to next-generation offshore activities and deep-sea exploration – Safety, security, and marine environment, leveraging new information technologies to develop smarter and autonomous ships and systems.
This fourth edition also reinforces the dual dimension by incorporating high-potential technologies for both civilian and defense applications.
Between 10 and 15 start-ups will be selected at the end of the AMI, which will close on May 27, 2026. All information is available at this link: SEAstart Accelerator Application | Framaforms.org.
The selected companies will benefit from: – Thematic workshops with 20 modules from the Dual Boost program (financing, markets, legal, communication, partnerships, exports, R&D, etc.); – Dedicated sessions open to maritime stakeholders during GICAN events; – Individual and collective mentoring sessions offered by Dual Boost; – Access to Defense Angels funding opportunities and partner networks; – Promotion at EURONAVAL and EUROMARITIME, and other trade fairs where GICAN will be present; – A joint event with the Blue Tech Club focusing on civilian maritime applications; – Invitation to all Defense Angels group events; – Full membership in GICAN and access to all its services based on the membership fee scale according to the company’s maritime turnover.
