On October 1, 2026, the Arts et Métiers campus in Lille hosted the first edition of its Defense Forum. Organized by the AM Défense association—founded in 2025 by engineering students at the campus—the event brought together students, industry representatives, institutions, and defense stakeholders to discuss issues related to industrial sovereignty, innovation, and technological transformations in the sector.
A successful first edition of the Defense Forum at the Lille campus!
For its inaugural edition, the Defense Forum brought together students and key players in the defense sector on the Lille campus. The discussions focused on industrial sovereignty, innovation, and new technologies.
Opening the Doors of the Défense Campus to Students
Founded just one year ago by students in the Grande École Program at the Lille campus, the AM Défense association is dedicated to introducing students to the careers, technologies, and major challenges in the defense sector, both civilian and military. It also seeks to facilitate interactions with industry professionals and to create opportunities for internships, site visits, and professional immersion.
With this first edition of the Defense Forum, the engineering students took another step forward by bringing together industry representatives, public institutions, experts, and students on campus.
The event was opened by General Anne-Cécile Ortemann, Military Governor of Lille, whose presence and opening remarks marked the launch of this first edition.
Industrial Sovereignty and Innovation at the Heart of Discussions
At a time when issues such as reindustrialization, strategic autonomy, and technological mastery are becoming increasingly important, the forum gave students the opportunity to compare their perspectives with those of industry professionals.
The discussions focused in particular on the challenges of reindustrialization and industrial sovereignty, against the backdrop of strengthening France’s industrial capabilities, securing supply chains, and mastering strategic technologies.
Another segment focused on new technologies and innovation, and the transformations they are bringing about in the defense sector: artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, new industrial capabilities...
Beyond the presentations, this afternoon was above all a special opportunity for students and professionals to meet and engage in dialogue, allowing students to gain a better understanding of the careers, areas of expertise, and potential paths within this strategic ecosystem.
A broad mobilization in support of students
This inaugural edition benefited from the participation of numerous stakeholders from the defense sector, industry, and government agencies, including Airbus, Akkodis, Dassault Aviation, KNDS, MBDA, Onera, Safran, TechnicAtome, Tibeka Protections, the Directorate General of Armaments, SIMMT, the Nord Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS), the three branches of the armed forces, the police, and the gendarmerie.
Conceived from the outset as an event that went beyond the scope of *Arts et Métiers* alone, the AM Défense Forum also became part of an inter-school initiative across the Lille metropolitan area. Several student organizations active in the areas of defense, security, and sovereignty were thus involved in this first edition, including Soteria, Krisis, ESPOL, and Junia Défense.
This initiative reflects a shared commitment: to build bridges between institutions and bring students into closer contact with the stakeholders who are currently addressing major industrial, technological, and strategic challenges.
A First Edition Driven by Student Engagement
For the AM Défense association, this inaugural event marks the culmination of a year of work and efforts to build relationships with institutional, industrial, and academic stakeholders in the sector.
It also illustrates the ability of engineering students atArts et Métiers to tackle issues that go beyond the purely technical realm and to examine, more broadly, the industrial and strategic challenges they will face in their future careers.
Arts et Métiers extends its warmest thanks to General Anne-Cécile Ortemann, Military Governor of Lille, for her presence and her opening remarks at the Forum, as well as to all the speakers, companies, institutions, representatives of the armed forces and the gendarmerie, student organizations, and participants who contributed to the success of this first edition.
A big congratulations to the students of the AM Défense association for their dedication and for organizing this first event.
