Euronaval 2014: International naval defence industries confirm the Paris venue’s leadership.

Overview of the situation by Jean-Marie CARNET, CEO of EURONAVAL

The vitality of the global naval economy, with its multiple components – including military, civil security, safety or environmental protection – results in new tensions around the ocean spaces that provide support for expansion in the 21st century:

"Marine space is becoming increasingly strategic. 80% of the volume of the world’s trade travels by sea. A lesser known but very important fact is that oceans are the backbone of globalization in terms of ocean internet hosting, the core of international web traffic and consequently of the global economy. With the inevitable depletion of land resources, States are now looking to the sea for energy, food and raw materials to provide for the 9 billion inhabitants projected for 2050. All these objective data are the source of major schemes around marine spaces currently led by States, prompting them to become appropriately equipped to defend the interests of their respective populations. An increasing demand for equipment ensures global activity that is well-supported on an international level".

EURONAVAL, world leader of exhibitions specialising in naval defence, maritime safety and security.

Over the course of its 24 editions, EURONAVAL has become the largest platform for international exchange on naval and maritime issues (besides yachting). A leader status that owes a great deal to the excellence of French naval industries, the world’s 6th manufacturer and 2nd in Europe; the same industries that created this biennial event in 1968. This 5-day international exhibition organised by the GICAN* is the naval equivalent of the Paris Air Show (SIAE) organised by the GIFAS for aeronautics and of EUROSATORY, organised by the GICAT for land: the latest edition in mid-June this year was a great success.

The regular increase in the number of high-level official delegations at EURONAVAL confirms States’ awareness of the enormous issues at stake in relation to our planet’s “6th continent”. In response to this awareness, the Paris biennial event meets all the needs for sovereignty missions in the naval defence sector. In recent years this is also the case for State actions at sea concerning maritime safety and security (maintaining public order at sea, navigation and fisheries policing, maritime and coastal surveillance).

Among its new features, EURONAVAL will present surface units, submarines, commando boats with their weapons and equipment, surface and underwater drones, naval aircraft, AUSV (autonomous unmanned surface vehicules), as well as new concepts, particularly for stealth.

More than just a professional exhibition, EURONAVAL is an international showcase for technology, bringing together decision-makers and buyers from all over the world and a full panel of industrialists, material designers and suppliers, simple and complex systems as well as all the associated services.

*GICAN, French industry association of naval construction and activities,has 159 member companies (June 2014) representing an accumulated turnover of approximately 8,5 billion Euros, and over 40,000 direct jobs.

Innovation at EURONAVAL 2014

In terms of exhibitors, EURONAVAL will welcome India and Australia: new nations with professed ambitions in the naval sector. Belgium, United Arab Emirates and Turkey will also be present at the exhibition for the first time.

There will also be particular focus on innovative technologies with the creation of the “simulation & immersive reality area”. For the first time at EURONAVAL, delegations, exhibitors, journalists and visitors will have access to immersive 3D technology, virtual and augmented reality dedicated to naval activities, presented by prestigious partners. The scope of these technologies covers everything including vessel design and construction, project review, operator and production personnel training, phases of a product’s life cycle applied to maritime transport, naval defence and undewater exploration.

Conferences and Workshops

particular efforts have been made this year to integrate major international paritcipation into two of the three principal proposed plenary conferences.

Tuesday 28th October: “Development of types of sea conflicts between today and 2025” with an assessment of whether the technological means available are appropriate and adequate for solving security problems.

Wednesday 29th October: “The contribution of international cooperation for maintaining a powerful industrial tool” or methods of international cooperation methods via technology transfers and the need to possess a high-performance, industrial tool in order to rationally and safely exploit maritime assets.

In the workshops, equipment and service providors will be able to put forward their ideas on tomorrow’s technologies that meet the needs expressed by major national and international buyers. .

The BtoB meetings will be organised by the CCI (Chamber of Trade & Industry) Paris Ile-de-France and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) which will ensure promotion for the business meetings via its 52 member countries. This partnership with EEN encourages the identification of major accounts, buyers and companies in their respective countries; that correspond to a target previously defined by and with the GICAN.

EURONAVAL Trophies
Welcoming a large proportion of international exhibitors and visitors, EURONAVAL is a globally recognised event. All the prizes awarded during the exhibition are labels of excellenc. Two of the three categories of the EURONAVAL Trophies are open to international innovations: one innovation Trophy for the vessel of the future and another for maritime security. The third Trophy, dedicated to performance, rewards the French SME having implemented the best project for export, diversification, establishment or export partnership.

EURONAVAL Campus naval
Launched at EURONAVAL 2012, this year CAMPUS NAVAL France will bring together the main bodies of initial and in-service training schemes for naval trades to promote access to trades in the naval sector; a high technology sector.

EURONAVAL 2014 in figures
• Over 350 exhibitors
• Over 50% of exhibitors from abroad representing 27 countries
• 15,000 square metres of exhibition space
• Over 90 official delegations expected from 65 countries
• 350 journalists expected

More information at: www.EURONAVAL.fr