A Structuring Device for Defense Innovation
Created on February 1, 2021, at the initiative of the Engineering and Expertise Directorate (DIE) of the General Directorate of Armament (DGA) and the Defense Innovation Agency (AID), the Bingo device has gradually established itself as a structuring actor in the defense innovation ecosystem in the Western region.
Since its creation, 29 innovative companies have been supported. The goal of the device is to bring out technological solutions that directly meet the operational needs of the armed forces by mobilizing the industrial, scientific, and academic skills of the region.
The new convention aims to continue this momentum by strengthening synergies between the various actors of the ecosystem.
Cooperation between Military, Academic, and Industrial Actors
The convention brings together several key players from the Ministry of the Armed Forces and the regional innovation ecosystem:
- The Engineering and Expertise Directorate of the DGA;
- The Cyber Defense Command (Comcyber);
- The Digital and Cyber Ground Support Command (CATNC);
- The Military Academy of Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan (AMSCC);
- The Ministry Agency for Defense Artificial Intelligence (Amiad);
- And the Poool, Rennes-Saint-Malo Technopole.
The convention was signed by Frederic Bouyer, director of DGA Information Mastery, representing Francois-Xavier Dufer, director of the Engineering and Expertise Directorate of the DGA, Major General Jean-René Couanau, Commander of CATNC, Bertrand Rondepierre, Director of Amiad, Major General Emmanuel Charpy, Commander of the Military Academy of Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan, Gaëlle Aubrée, President of the Poool association, and Colonel Frédérick Zimmermann, representing Major General Emmanuel Naegelen, Commander of Comcyber.
In addition to these partners, Bingo also relies on a network of institutional and academic actors such as the Naval Innovation Pole in Brittany (Orion), the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (Inria), the Institute of Electronics and Digital Technologies (IETR), as well as several schools and universities in the region.
Accelerating the Transformation of Innovation into Operational Capabilities
The Bingo device aims to streamline and accelerate exchanges between the armed forces, which express operational needs, and companies – startups, SMEs, ETIs – capable of offering innovative solutions.
By fostering synergy between military, industrial, and scientific actors, Bingo helps capture innovation from the regional economic fabric and transform it into concrete defense solutions. This collaborative approach allows for the design of comprehensive and integrated technical solutions, tailored to contemporary defense challenges and contributing to strengthening the technological and informational superiority of the armed forces.
Innovative Companies at the Heart of the Device
The signing of the convention also offered the opportunity to highlight several companies supported by Bingo. During a round table discussion with representatives of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, several companies presented their technologies and participated in demonstrations.
Among them were: CG Wireless, Magellium Artal Group, Epsi, Scalian, and Cesta.
These demonstrations, concretely illustrated how the innovations developed by these companies can address operational issues identified by the armed forces.
Stringent Criteria for Candidate Companies
To join the Bingo device, companies must meet several eligibility criteria. The financial strength of the company is first evaluated to ensure its ability to carry out the project in the long term. The innovative nature of the proposed solution is also a determining criterion.
Projects must also address use cases directly related to the operational needs of the armed forces. Finally, the scalability capacity is considered to ensure that solutions can be deployed more widely if they meet operational expectations.
Technological Themes Supported by Bingo
The Greater West Innovation System in Brittany supports projects in several strategic domains:
- Information Systems
- Telecommunication Systems
- Artificial Intelligence and Big Data
- Space
- Cyber and Quantum
- Components
- Detection and Electronic Warfare
- Self-protection
- Guidance and navigation / Navwar
- Missile Systems
