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14/11

Online 14.11.2025

French Defense Sector Business Opportunities

When: 14.11.2025 at 10:00-11:15 (Finnish time)

Where: MS Teams 

Registration

Further information

Henriikka Yliheljo
Counsellor, Trade & Investment, Embassy of Finland, Paris
henriikka.yliheljo (at) gov.fi 

Defense and Digital Resilience Program
Kirsi Kokko
Head of Defense and Digital Resilience Program
kirsi.kokko (at) businessfinland.fi


Venni Metsäranta
Program Coordinator
venni.metsaranta (at) businessfinland.fi

Welcome to explore the latest developments in the French defense sector and related business opportunities.

In today’s evolving geopolitical landscape, France is significantly increasing its defense budget. The 2025 allocation is projected at €62 billion, representing 2% of the country’s GDP, with further growth expected in the coming years.

Beyond traditional defense material needs, France is placing greater emphasis on innovation and dual-use technologies to address emerging threats. The French defense market is also increasingly and more directly opening up to foreign partners and providers, in the current context of military and industrial ramping up. The expanding European dimension - driven by the need to strengthen collective security and defense - also reinforces France’s interest in deeper cooperation with other EU member states, particularly in procurement and R&D.

This webinar, organized by the Embassy of Finland in collaboration with Business Finland and PIA ry, offers a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the structure of the French defense sector, its key stakeholders, and value chains. Local defence experts will share perspectives on current demand, ongoing programs, and business opportunities, as well as go-to-market strategies for Finnish solution providers.

This webinar is reserved for Finnish companies.

Preliminary agenda

  • 10:00-10:10 Welcome words and introduction – Embassy of Finland, Paris
  • 10:10-11:00 Presentation of French defense sector and market, Romain de Calbiac*, Fidelis&Associes and Eric Lambert, Renaissance Strategic Advisors
  • 11:00-11:10 Finnish company’s testimonial on their experience in the French defense market - TBC
  • 11:10-11:30 Q/A

*Romain de CALBIAC, associate of Fidelis & Associes and collaborating with C&V Consulting (Brussels) on European defense industry issues, has extensive experience in the defense sector and in advising industrial companies active in security and defense on their development both in France and international markets.

Fidelis & Associés is a French consultancy specialising on French Defense and Security markets. Active since 2020, Fidelis & Associés has accompanied several foreign customers in exploring and securing Private and Public markets alike, providing all associated services (due diligence, partner identification, business and media introduction, etc.) in the process.