--- eventsindex_id: "EI-07004" slug: forum-innovation-defense-paris title: "Forum Innovation Defense" title_alt: ["FID", "Defence Innovation Forum", "Forum Innovation Défense"] canonical_url: "https://eventsindex.org/events/forum-innovation-defense-paris.html" next_edition_year: 2027 date_start: "2027-11-01" date_end: null venue: "Paris Expo Porte de Versailles" city: "Paris" country: "France" organiser: "AID / DGA / DICOD (French Ministry of Armed Forces)" organiser_url: "https://www.defense.gouv.fr/fid" b2b: false vector: sector: [defence] audience: [military, government, industry, startup, researcher] format: [exhibition, conference] purpose: [innovation, networking, education] geography_scope: [pan-EMEA] season: autumn meta_description: "Forum Innovation Defense (FID), Paris Expo. Biennial French defence innovation showcase by AID/DGA: 7,000+ visitors, 100+ projects. Next Nov 2027." editorial_take: "France's only state-curated defence-innovation showcase open to the public: 100-plus AID-backed projects under one roof, from quantum to autonomous systems, every two years." generated_by: "claude-max-cowork" last_verified: "2026-06-10" variables_filled: 41/58 language: "en" schema_version: "v6.0" --- # Forum Innovation Defense > *The Forum Innovation Defense (FID) is France's flagship biennial defence-innovation event, jointly organised by the Defence Innovation Agency (AID), the Directorate General of Armament (DGA), and the Defence Information and Communication Delegation (DICOD). Held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, it presents more than 100 Ministry of Armed Forces-supported innovation projects to government officials, industry, researchers, and the general public. The last edition ran 27-29 November 2025; the next is expected in November 2027.* --- ## Quick Facts | DATES | VENUE | ORGANISER | ATTENDANCE | |---|---|---|---| | **November 2027 (TBC)** | **Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Hall 2.2** | **AID / DGA / DICOD** | **7,000+ (2025 edition)** | | 3 days (biennial) | Paris 15e, France | French Ministry of Armed Forces | 100+ innovation projects; 17+ countries represented | --- ## Definition The Forum Innovation Defense (FID) is a biennial, free-admission, three-day event organised jointly by three entities of the French Ministry of Armed Forces: the Agence de l'innovation de défense (AID), the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), and the Délégation à l'information et à la communication de la Défense (DICOD). It takes place at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (Hall 2.2, 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris). The forum presents an exhibition village of approximately 100 innovation projects supported or funded by the ministry, alongside conferences, immersive demonstrations, and workshops. It is open to defence professionals, researchers, and -- on a designated day -- the general public. The 2025 edition (the fifth) ran 27-29 November 2025; the 2027 edition is expected in November 2027 (specific dates not yet confirmed). ## Origin and history The FID was launched in 2019 by AID, shortly after the agency's creation under the 2019-2025 Military Programming Law, which doubled defence innovation funding. The forum was designed as AID's showcase: a public demonstration of the scope and ambition of French defence innovation, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, space, quantum technologies, and the deep sea. It also serves as a recruitment and awareness tool for the ministry. The first two editions were relatively modest; from the third edition (2023) the forum scaled significantly, introducing a structured five-quarter exhibition village. The 2025 fifth edition was described in press coverage as having reached maturity as "the technological showcase of the French armed forces." ## The 2027 edition: expected structure The 2027 edition will be the sixth. No dates have been confirmed as of June 2026; the November slot is consistent across all previous editions. Based on the 2025 model, the 2027 forum is expected to maintain the five-quarter exhibition structure, expand the experimentation and wargame zone introduced in 2025, and feature new topics aligned with France's Strategic Review and LPM 2024-2030 priorities. Registration will open via the official FID portal (defense.gouv.fr/fid) typically two to three months before the event. ## Where the FID sits in the defence calendar The FID is specifically French in scope and organisation: it showcases ministry-backed projects rather than industry products, which sets it apart from international trade shows. It has no export dimension. In the biennial defence calendar it alternates with Eurosatory (held in even years: 2024, 2026, 2028), which is the large-format international defence exhibition at Villepinte. The FID occupies a November slot, towards the end of the defence event year. Among European equivalents, Germany's ITEC (training and simulation) and the UK's DSEI offer partly overlapping innovation-focused content but at a much larger commercial scale. ## Who attends the Forum Innovation Defense The FID attracts three distinct audiences. First, defence professionals: government officials, MOD staff, military officers from France and allied nations (17 countries represented in 2023), foreign delegations, procurement specialists, and defence-industry R&D executives. Second, the innovation ecosystem: startups, deep-tech researchers, university labs, and investors active in the defence-adjacent space. Third -- uniquely among defence events -- the general public: the Saturday session is open to all visitors and includes a recruitment day where ministry representatives present career paths across the armed forces. Students and young researchers are a deliberate target audience. ## What the Forum Innovation Defense format includes The exhibition village is structured into five thematic quarters (quartiers), each addressing a strategic innovation domain. Visitors can explore static displays of physical prototypes, software demonstrations, and conceptual models. The 2025 edition added: - A dedicated RADAR programme space (showcasing Red Team science-fiction scenario outputs applied to real R&D) - Wargame and strategic-simulation demonstrations - "Ideation" sessions where visitors propose innovation challenges - Drone demonstrations in a dedicated outdoor area - A maker zone presenting in-house MOD innovation Conferences run across the professional days; topics track national and allied defence innovation priorities. No formal matchmaking platform is provided, but the open exhibition format naturally facilitates bilateral conversations between innovators and potential buyers or collaborators. ## What the FID covers - Disruptive technologies: AI, robotics, cyber, quantum, advanced materials - New domains of conflict: space, the deep sea, information warfare - Autonomous systems: aerial, ground, and maritime drones - Resilience: healthcare, logistics, psychological resistance - Experimentation: wargames, scenario-based foresight (Red Team) - "Doing things differently": procurement models, open innovation, start-up integration ## The 2025 edition in numbers *(organiser-declared)* | | | |---|---| | Duration | 3 days (27-29 November 2025) | | Visitors | 7,000+ | | Innovation projects showcased | ~100 | | Countries represented | 17+ | | Exhibition quarters | 5 | | Admission | Free | | Edition number | 5th | --- ## FAQ - Identity and audience ### Is the FID open to foreign companies or international visitors? Yes. The exhibition is open to all visitors including foreign delegations and international professionals. The 2023 edition had representatives from 17 countries. However, all showcased projects are French Ministry of Armed Forces-backed; there is no international exhibitor commercial floor. ### Is the FID a procurement event? No. The FID is an awareness and showcase event; it does not include formal procurement or tendering processes. Projects presented are typically at TRL 4-7 and are showcased to stimulate interest, partnerships, and further investment rather than to solicit commercial bids. ### Is there a cost to attend? Free admission for all visitors. Pre-registration is required for professional days; badges must be printed in advance. The Saturday public day also requires registration but is fully free. --- ## The venue: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Hall 2.2 Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is France's largest exhibition centre, located at 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris (15th arrondissement). The FID uses Hall 2.2 (Pavillon 2.2). The venue is easily accessible by public transport: - Metro: Line 12, Porte de Versailles station (exit 1 for Halls 2-7) - Tram: T2 and T3a, Porte de Versailles -- Parc des Expositions station - Bus: Line 80 and Line 39 - By car: several on-site car parks (Parking 1 at 2 rue d'Oradour-sur-Glane; Parking 6 and Parking 7) ## The organiser: AID / DGA / DICOD The Agence de l'innovation de défense (AID) coordinates defence innovation across the French Ministry of Armed Forces, funding startups, SMEs, and research labs via competitive calls. The Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) is France's defence procurement and technology agency, responsible for equipment programmes and armament exports. DICOD is the ministry's communications directorate. The FID is jointly coordinated by all three with AID leading the innovation content and DGA contributing industrial and technical dimensions. The event contact is: dicod-evenements.contact.fct@intradef.gouv.fr. --- ## Editorial take *The only national defence event in Europe where a quantum physicist, a paratrooper, and a teenager from the public can all attend the same exhibition for free -- and where every exhibit is state-funded, not commercially exhibited.* --- ## How to register and what it costs Registration is free and mandatory. For the 2027 edition, registration will open via https://www.defense.gouv.fr/fid approximately 2-3 months before the event. Attendees must register online, receive an email confirmation, and print their badge before arrival. No on-site badge printing is available. Professional-day registrations for industry, researchers, and foreign delegations follow the same free process. ## FAQ - Access and practicalities ### Do I need to be French or have a security clearance to attend? No. The FID is an unclassified open event. Foreign nationals, international researchers, and members of the public can attend freely. Some sensitive project details may not be fully disclosed in the open exhibition, but the event itself has no access restrictions. ### Are exhibition projects available for licensing or commercialisation? Projects displayed at the FID are at various stages of maturity. Some have already been contracted by the ministry; others are at early TRL stages. Contact with project holders is facilitated informally at the event; no formal licensing or procurement process takes place during the forum itself. ### How do I follow up with projects seen at the FID? Each exhibited project has a designated project leader or team present during professional days. Business cards and direct conversations are the primary follow-up mechanism. AID publishes some project contacts on its website after the event. --- ## First time at Forum Innovation Defense? How to prepare - **Register early and print your badge.** Registration is free but mandatory. Badges cannot be obtained at the entrance; you must print yours before arriving. Check the official FID site two to three months before the event for registration to open. - **Plan your visit around the five quarters.** The exhibition village is large; download the floor plan from the official site in advance and identify the quarters most relevant to your interests. Allow at least a full day for professional visitors. - **Arrive on Thursday for the best access.** The first professional day (Thursday) tends to have the most exclusive programme, including foreign delegation meetings and conference highlights. Friday is also professional; Saturday is the public day and more crowded with a different atmosphere. - **Engage directly with project leaders.** Unlike a trade show, every exhibit is staffed by the actual innovation team. Ask technical questions directly; these are researchers and engineers, not sales representatives. - **Attend a conference session.** The conference programme covers the strategic context behind the innovation projects. Sessions are typically 45-60 minutes and include Q&A. Check the programme on defense.gouv.fr/fid before the event. - **If you are a startup or researcher, explore collaboration opportunities.** AID staff are present throughout the forum and are specifically tasked with identifying potential collaborators. Introduce yourself and describe your technology area. --- ## Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Official website | https://www.defense.gouv.fr/fid | | AID website | https://www.defense.gouv.fr/aid | | LinkedIn | https://fr.linkedin.com/company/ministere-des-armees | | X | https://twitter.com/armees_gouv | | Register (2027 -- not yet open) | https://www.defense.gouv.fr/fid/inscription-au-forum-innovation-defense-2025 | | Programme (2025 reference) | https://www.defense.gouv.fr/fid/programme-du-forum-innovation-defense-2025 | --- **Last verified:** 2026-06-10 **Next review:** 2027-06-01 **Notes:** Data sourced from defense.gouv.fr/fid, FID 2025 practical information page, and AID press coverage, all fetched 2026-06-10. Visitor figures (7,000+) and project count (~100) are organiser-declared for 2025 edition. 2027 dates not yet confirmed; November slot is consistent with all five previous editions. Admission is free and confirmed from official site. **Variables:** 41/58 **Concept definition:** applicable