The new era that is beginning is characterised by five megatrends of a geopolitical, economic, societal, environmental and technological nature, forcing public and private players in the defence and security sector to face up to several challenges, such as “ stock of sovereignty” by encouraging a policy of “reindustrialisation based on chosen rather than imposed dependencies”.
Eurosatory is thus firmly positioned as the “exhibition for all crises”, offering solutions in defence, homeland security and civil security that are unequalled anywhere in the world. New world, new challenges, new solutions! To learn more about the key features and highlights of Eurosatory 2024, which will be held in Paris from 17 to 21 June 2024, Al-Jundi Journal interviewed retired Major General Charles Baudouin, CEO of COGES EVENTS, the organising company of Eurosatory 2024 and had the following dialogue with him:
Tell us about Eurosatory 2024 and the new features that the exhibition will offer this year.
Once again at the heart of global developments, Eurosatory stands out as the unmissable gathering for the entire international Defence and Security Industry. Both the reflection of its markets and witness to their transformation accelerated by multiple crises: geopolitical, economic, societal, climate; and the explosion of artificial intelligence, Eurosatory accompanies global transformations around the triumvirate of Defence, Security and crisis response. As the world leader in its category, Eurosatory had a duty to further develop this offering in addition to its traditional range of equipment and solutions for land and air-land. That’s why for the 2024 edition, trade visitors will discover a range of solutions for managing humanitarian and environmental crises. These solutions will be widely available all over the show but will also once again be the focus of a special feature, offering an original take on a selection of international companies from a dozen countries presenting solutions dedicated to humanitarian and environmental crises: the HELPED area (standing for Humanitarian Emergency Logistic Project and Eco-Development) over an area spanning 2,500 sqm.
In a world first for Eurosatory in 2024, an exhibition zone will be set aside exclusively for helicopters. Action on the ground in all its forms, from high-intensity conflicts to humanitarian disaster management, encompasses all domains (land, air, space, naval and cyber). In this context, the use of helicopters in air-land operations is of paramount importance.
Live demonstrations
Live demonstrations will be conducted at the show every day and are a must-see feature of the show. Taking place on a surface area of over 20,000 sqm, these demonstrations in real-life conditions offer visitors an immersive look at the operational capabilities of the cutting-edge equipment and systems presented by manufacturers. These impressive demonstrations are also a unique opportunity to witness the operational performance of France’s armed forces and elite units.
Eurosatory Lab
Eurosatory Lab is a veritable innovation ecosystem, where start-ups can interact with industry experts, investors and decision-makers, and an essential lever in the quest for “disruptive” innovations that will make a difference in the fields of military defence and civil security. The 2024 edition of Eurosatory Lab promises to be particularly lively, with more than 60 international startups registered.
Moreover, participants come from various fields including new materials, 3D printing, inexhaustible energy resources, genomics, artificial intelligence, big data, cloud-based computing, the Internet of Things and blockchain.
Eurosatory 2024 will also be a genuine forum for exchange and debate, bringing together more than 200 world-renowned experts and influential figures to reflect on current and future challenges. By shedding light on the latest innovations and promoting discussion around practical solutions to emerging challenges, the talks and panel discussions aim to become a driving force for progress in defence and security.
Who should be an exhibitor at Eurosatory 2024?
Eurosatory 2024 will bring together more than 2,044 exhibitors from more than 62 countries and 51 national pavilions, across more than 170,000 sqm of exhibition space, making this edition the largest in the history of Eurosatory and the world’s largest tradeshow in its sector.
Furthermore, leaders from Defence, Homeland Security and Civil Security – Assistance to Populations, will participate in this event. Eurosatory is a multidomain tradeshow: while the land defence domain represents the majority share, the exhibition offering includes 48% of exhibitors working in other domains – space, naval, air, cyber…
The entire value chain will be present at the show, 39% are Component manufacturers, 24% are Sub-system manufacturers and 17% are Prime contractors / Manufacturers.
What are your expectations for Eurosatory 2024 in general and the size of local and international participation in this session?
This 2024 edition will be the biggest in our history, and the history of any professional defence and security show in the world. We’ll be welcoming over 2,000 exhibitors from every continent. Among them, we’ll have 32% of new exhibitors, 2/3 of whom are international. Moreover, the Middle East accounts for 8% of our Exhibitors this year. The previous edition, in 2022, was already a record. This year, we’re increasing the number of exhibitors by 17%, for a 29% increase in exhibition space.
Where do you see the location of Eurosatory 2024 on the map of international exhibitions?
Eurosatory is the global crossroads for defence and security actors, the international showcase for technologies and the gateway to the European markets, enabling all players in the defence and security ecosystem to meet, exchange ideas and expand their business networks. This is reflected in the number of technological innovations presented at the show, and the contracts and partnerships unveiled during it.
The show is specialised in “land and air-land systems”, but perfectly reflects the sector’s various synergies: dual technologies, multi-purpose products, defence and security, and so on. Moreover, the exhibition includes areas for high-level exchanges and product demonstrations/showrooms with talks, keynotes, one-to-one business meetings, live demonstrations, specialised zones, technology hubs, etc.). Eurosatory therefore meets the needs of the defence and security markets and responds to the hottest geopolitical issues, and simulates supply through its services and tools, enabling participants to showcase their products and innovations in just a few days. The strength of the event lies in the fact that it is organized by COGES EVENTS, a company that is both an expert in the organization of global events and a specialist in its sector, as a subsidiary of a defence and security industrial group, with a deliberate focus on service to industry.
Do you have any message that you would like to send to the readers through Al-Jundi Journal?
As you may have noticed, Eurosatory is reinforcing its position as the leading Defence and Security exhibition. Eurosatory is the place to be in 2024. It’s a unique opportunity to meet all the industry’s manufacturers and buyers. If you are a public or private sector decision maker in the Defence and Security community, a government member, a professional of the Armed Forces or Homeland Security Forces, or a Civilian Security or Crisis Management professional, Eurosatory is your show.
Profile
- Major General (Retired) Charles Beaudouin
- CEO of COGES EVENTS since July 2022 and Managing Director since October 2020
- He has 38 years of experience in the French Army, where he held a variety of responsibilities
- He has qualifications in scientific and technical military studies in land weapons systems and from the joint defence college, he was a panel member at the 44th session of the Centre for Advanced Armament Studies
- In 2013, appointed brigadier general, he became director of the army’s technical section.
- In 2017, as a major general, he was appointed deputy chief of staff for plans and programmes in the French army, his last position in the armed forces.
» Interviewed by: «AlJundi»
