Defense: Brittany wants to improve the skills sector

The geopolitical context raises the question of strategic autonomy for France and for Europe. As part of the agreement signed in 2024 with the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the Brittany Region is mobilizing to gain strength on the industrial side. The community presented its roadmap to industry in the sector on Thursday May 28 in Rennes, in the presence of Benoît Laroche de Roussane, director of the defense industry at the General Directorate of Armaments.

Support for businesses will be based in particular on the creation of an accelerator to help with diversification and financing solutions. From the naval industry to cyber defense, including the industrial and defense technology base (BITD), Brittany will direct 7 million euros from European funds towards this sector. 

« Brittany benefits from a long tradition in the field of defense industry, from shipbuilding to submarines and drones. It is an economic pillar with more than 60,000 civilian and military jobs, including 30,000 in industry. As for cybersecurity itself, it will increase to 10,000 jobs,” a décrit the president of the Region, Loïg Chesnais-Girard.

« We will give priority to supporting SMEs and ETIs, essential links in the supply chain of major clients, in order to accelerate their rise in skills and their ability to respond to the market.“, he added.

This structuring will be based on two tools: a Defense booster, a sort of accelerator which will support, from September, ten to fifteen nuggets identified with the DGA and wishing to diversify.

An adapted financial component, loans at preferential rates and investment and cash flow aid, will also support industrial projects. Via the Bpifrance fund supplemented by the Region, loans of 50,000 to 500,000 euros over 7 to 10 years can be released, with a leverage effect of around 12 million euros.