10 years of investment with Safran Corporate Ventures

Safran Corporate Ventures has channeled Safran's open innovation strategy since its inception in 2015. Its mandate is to invest in pioneering startups that have technologies or expertise that can strengthen the Group's strategic operations. For two reasons: to fast-track integration of groundbreaking solutions into Safran's products and services (engines, equipment, onboard systems, materials, etc.) while fueling an enduring industrial and technological ecosystem. 

Safran Corporate Ventures targets growing companies in specific fields selected by the Group's top management, namely digital transformation, decarbonization and sovereignty. It is a technology “control tower” and scouts companies, takes a leap with them, invests in them and works with them. Besides financing, it provides strategic guidance, an open door to Safran's expertise and paths to industrial cooperation.

Safran Corporate Ventures celebrated a decade of bold moves, steadfast commitment and productive collaboration at a special event it hosted in Le Bourget. Besides Safran's Chief Executive Officer Olivier Andriès and the head of France's defense procurement agency (DGA), Emmanuel Chiva, the participants included entrepreneurs, investors, experts and Group executives. They looked back on past successes, looked forward to exciting innovation prospects and shined a light on their partner startups.

It was also an opportunity to underscore Safran's ongoing commitment to this agile, trailblazing ecosystem—“So that we never get caught off guard by breakthroughs,” Olivier Andriès pointed out. “That's why Safran Corporate Ventures brings together investment and open innovation teams, and works closely alongside Safran Tech, the Group's research and technology center.”

Emmanuel Chiva also spoke at the ceremony—in particular about the challenge of sovereignty, a cornerstone of Safran's strategy, while highlighting the Group's role alongside government agencies in defense technology investment funds. As a leading industrial contractor, Safran has a role to play in structuring the sector, especially alongside SMEs. Safran has for instance invested in five startups—Kalray, Cailabs, Sintermat, Numalis and Greenerwave—alongside Innovation Défense and Défense Invest, two government funds.

Safran Corporate Ventures also facilitates connections. It was precisely its intimate knowledge of the startup ecosystem that led to the acquisition of Preligens, a French champion specialized in AI-powered military and space image analysis. The integration of Preligens and the creation of Safran.AI, with the DGA's support, have propelled Safran to the forefront of AI applications relating to intelligence gathering and surveillance, as well as AI embedded in products—a shining French success story on this front.

Turning to the coming years, “It's time to look further into the future. Move into our second decade with the same goal as ever: harness innovation to drive performance, strengthen sovereignty and power transformation in our industries,” wrapped up Florent Illat, Head of Safran Corporate Ventures.