5 major challenges for the territory and the sector
To address these issues, the 1st 'Maritime - Défense' monitoring committee in Var met on February 2 at the préfecture du Var.
Var is a dual territory, with a naval industry that employs more than 6,000 direct jobs and generates an economic activity estimated at €1.44 billion. The French armed forces are a major pillar of employment in the territory with nearly 31,000 people. A territory at the heart of French naval defense and maritime innovation, Var is engaged in a phase of industrial and technological acceleration (modernization of capacities, autonomous systems, cyber, digital twins), which will increase needs in production, skills, and support infrastructure.
UNITING THE ACTORS Driven by the SéER, in close connection with the préfecture de département, the préfecture maritime, the conseil régional, and the chambre de commerce et d'industrie, an ambitious territorial economic development initiative has been launched in Var to structure and boost the maritime – defense sector. This project aims to bring together public and private stakeholders around a shared roadmap in order to strengthen competitiveness, support employment, and accompany transitions (innovation, decarbonization, war economy).
This first steering committee made it possible to validate the scope of action, define priorities, and identify and mobilize the levers necessary for the scaling up of this strategic sector for national sovereignty and the territory's attractiveness. This new partnership approach illustrates the service offering of the SéER to the préfectures de département, on two key industrial sectors: the maritime/naval sector and the defense sector. Sector players will meet on these various topics to build a collective roadmap for the territorial economic development of the sector.
• PLEASE NOTE... Gathering the needs of the various ecosystem stakeholders has identified 5 major challenges for the territory and the sector: • Industrial land, reception capacities & productive investments, • Testing facilities, demonstration and experimentation platforms, • Technological transformation & competitiveness (Smart yard, AI, cyber, drones), • Employment, skills, local training and job attractiveness, • Sector structuring, public procurement, steering & inter-territorial cooperation.