The ENSTA Paris-Saclay campus is hosting Operation CIEDS 2026

Institute, Innovation, Research Defense and Security, Marine Engineering, Digital Science & Engineering, Transport and mobility

On June 9, the ENSTA Paris-Saclay campus will host the fourth edition of Opération CIEDS, the defense and security conference organized by the Interdisciplinary Center for Defense and Security Studies (CIEDS) at the Institut Polytechnique de Paris. This is a unique opportunity for industry representatives, researchers, and defense professionals to come together, with numerous researchers from both ENSTA campuses set to participate.

How can we improve the security and telecommunications safety ? Is it possible to communicate with underwater drones operating beneath sea ice? Can quantum technologies be used to detect mines?

These are just a few of the very concrete challenges that will be addressed during Operation CIEDS 2026, in line with the CIEDS’ mission: to identify, within the laboratories of the six schools of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, any scientific or technological breakthroughs capable of meeting the country’s defense and security needs.

A major new feature of the 2026 edition is the inclusion of the defense activities of the Interdisciplinary Center for Seas and Oceans (CIMO)

The Glassmar Project: Communication with Drones Under the Sea Ice

The day will begin at 9 a.m. with a welcome address by Estelle Iacona, Executive Director of ENSTA, whose Paris-Saclay campus is hosting the event. As a school dedicated to sovereignty studies, ENSTA plays a leading role in CIEDS’ activities. Indeed, of all the new projects to be presented on June 9, a large proportion involve participation from ENSTA laboratories, whether from the Paris-Saclay or Brest campuses. In addition to the projects, numerous ENSTA researchers will also take part in roundtables and thematic seminars throughout the day.

Following opening remarks by Thierry Coulhon, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, and a speech by General Engineer of Armaments Nicolas Cordier-Lallouet, Deputy Director of the Defense Innovation Agency, the first lecture by Captain Hugues Vallette will focus on the deep sea as a new theater of sovereignty.

This will be followed by a presentation by Fabrice Montillet, Director of Development and Innovation at Naval Group, on the technological challenges facing the maritime sector.

A roundtable discussion on a possibleresurgence of the CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) threat, moderated by General Engineer of Armaments Mathieu Xémard, will conclude the morning session.

The lunch break will provide an opportunity for discussions around research posters and at the booths of the startups, industry representatives, and institutional partners in attendance.

General Engineer of Armaments Laurent Vieste will speak on the topic “Inventing Tomorrow’s Superiority” at 2:45 p.m.

Starting at 3:15 p.m., thematic seminars will begin on air-land robotics, cyber defense, additive metal manufacturing, and quantum technologies.

 

The day will conclude with the presentation of the award for the best scientific poster, as voted on by the public; the presentation of a check to Bleuet de France; and a closing cocktail reception that will provide an opportunity for final discussions aimed at fostering tomorrow’s opportunities through interdisciplinary collaboration.

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