IncubAlliance present at Soflab 2018

Facilitating connections between startups, industry players, and special forces personnel: this was the objective of the first Soflab event, organized by the Arbalète network on March 29th. This objective was achieved, as evidenced by the presence of over 400 participants from both the civilian and military sectors. Here's a look back at a day rich in discussions and networking opportunities, in which Gironac and Kopadia, two startups from IncubAlliance, were able to participate.

An offshoot of last year's Arbalète Lab, held as part of SOFINS, Soflab this year gave 25 startups, selected from 70 applicants, the opportunity to pitch to a jury of experts and an audience of 400 people, including special forces personnel, members of the Cercle de l'Arbalète, and industry representatives from Thales, Airbus, and Safran. This event stems from the Cercle de l'Arbalète's commitment to fostering dual-use innovation. «We are indeed convinced that start-ups, alongside large industrial groups, are today the source of numerous innovations that can be used in the military world.” »" explains Isabelle Potier, general manager of the Cercle de l'Arbalète.

This conviction is widely shared and supported by IncubAlliance, whose deputy managing director, François Many, is also a member of the Cercle's board.« Indeed, within the Paris-Saclay cluster, we are fortunate to see the emergence and support of highly innovative technology start-ups in fields as diverse as aeronautics, communications, reconnaissance, surveillance, and more. It therefore seems crucial to us to contribute, through initiatives like this, to dialogue between worlds that sometimes have little understanding of each other, despite having so much to offer one another, as is the case here with the specific R&D needs of special forces.

This initiative was clearly beneficial to the approximately 400 people participating in the event, judging by the numerous contacts made late into the afternoon during the forum held in the main hall of ENSTA.« We are delighted with this success and are already starting to plan another event of this type at the next SOFINS trade fair, which will take place in April 2019. »" concludes Isabelle Portier.

To learn more about the Crossbow Circle : https://cercledelarbalete.org