Boost and Leverage Aerospace & Defense Technologies (BLAST) Program – France

BLAST is an early-stage accelerator program focused on ASD technologies to boost mature research projects and pre-seed start-ups, in order to consolidate a pool of deep tech actors for future major aerospace and defense programs. The ambition is to consolidate a pool of deeptech players to prepare them for the upcoming major aerospace and defense programs of the future.

Mission

• An unprecedented initiative in France to develop the deep tech sector applicable to the ASD.
• The BLAST program was born after a strong observation: the lack of a program constituted in France, dedicated to the accompaniment of deep tech projects for the ASD sector. This sector is nevertheless a French technological showcase and represents a positive contribution to the trade balance of the country. It has been driven over the last ten years by a powerful wave of innovations from non-traditional players supported by venture capital funds, enabling them to develop cutting-edge technologies.
• This movement, which is particularly dynamic in the United States and Israel, needs to be strengthened in Europe, particularly in France. Technological innovation in the ASD industry inherently bears the characteristics of deeptech: high barriers to entry, a long and complex development cycle and a strong disruptive nature if successful.
• The ambition of the BLAST program is to impel a new dynamic to promote the emergence and sustainability of a new wave of technological projects throughout the national territory ready to irrigate the commercial market, from the unique epicenter of competencies gathered locally in Paris Saclay.

Objectives

• The program has three main goals:
  • Support 20 deep tech projects in the A&D sector per year through “à la carte” training and coaching actions and special connections with the ASD sector.
  • Participate in the structuring and gathering of the local ASD ecosystem in order to increase the number and resilience of deep tech projects in France.
  • Promote the civil/military duality between the two sectors.

Focus Areas

• Aviation
• Space
• Defense
• Enabling technologies

Themes

• The specific themes of BLAST are:
  • Decarbonized aviation: electric, hybrid, and hydrogen engines
  • New urban and regional air mobility platforms
  • Autonomous sensors
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Downstream and upstream space technologies

Benefits

• BLAST differentiates itself from other programs in several ways:
  • A unique program that offers training or support packages according to the needs of the project leaders.
  • BLAST is only aimed at companies established in the ASD markets, or wishing to develop in them.
  • The program is developed by a consortium in which each member offers modules corresponding to their field of expertise.
  • Consortium members benefit from a powerful network within the industry.
  • Public/private balance that combines the power of networks and agility.
  • Thirteen-week acceleration boot camp unique in France.
• The “value” of BLAST support is 110,000€ per supported company. The remuneration method of the program partners is in the acquisition of equity in the supported startups, approximately 5% of the capital.
• BLAST does not provide funding support directly, however, BLAST will prepare the project owners to raise funds, whether they are private or public, by structuring their company and their speech. This is the essence of the program.

Eligibility Criteria

• The program’s scope is essentially national, without necessarily excluding foreign projects that would like to set up in France and create value for the local and national ecosystems.
• The criteria for the projects selected will be:
  • The innovative features of the proposed solution.
  • The benefit of the solution to address the major issues of the aeronautics, space, and/or defense industries.
  • The suitability of the team in charge of the project.
  • The relevance of the BLAST program to the aeronautics, space, and/or defense industry.

For more information, visit BLAST.