NewSpace, DefTech and Innovation at École Polytechnique

• Definition and key stakes 

  The ASD sector brings together high-tech industries dedicated to the design, manufacturing, and maintenance (MRO) of civil and military aircraft, space infrastructure, and global security systems. More than a mere industrial sector, ASD is a strategic pillar of state sovereignty, characterized by long development cycles and strong technological duality: defense innovations constantly fuel civil advancements, and vice versa. From ultra-specialized supply chains to major prime contractors, this sector continuously pushes the boundaries of engineering (AI, robotics, advanced materials) to ensure the security and connectivity of the modern world.

  Today, the ASD sector faces an unprecedented transformation, driven by a threefold imperative: sustainability, sovereignty, and resilience.

  The first challenge is environmental: achieving a major technological breakthrough to decarbonize civil aviation by 2050 (hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels).

  The second is geopolitical: ramping up production rates to respond to a "war economy" and integrating disruptive technologies (AI, cyber defense, drones), all while structuring the rise of NewSpace.

  Finally, the third challenge is purely industrial and human: to honor record-breaking order books, the industry must imperatively secure a fragile global supply chain, successfully transition to Industry 4.0, and win the war for talent by attracting the next generation of skilled professionals.

• Key Sectors of ASD

  ✔︎ Sustainable Aviation: green propulsion (hydrogen, SAFs), eco-design & advanced materials ; 

  ✔︎ Modern Space: launchers, constellations (NewSpace) & space domain awareness ; 

  ✔︎ Future Defense & Combat: drones, electronic warfare & collaborative combat systems ; 

  ✔︎ Mission-Critical Systems: embedded systems, signal processing & threat detection ;

  ✔︎ Disruptive Technologies: quantum computing, Artificial Intelligence & sovereign cloud (data sovereignty) ;

  ✔︎ Operational Readiness: MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) & predictive maintenance. 

• Incubation and acceleration programme 

  Polytechnique offers tailored support for DeepTech startups in the NewSpace and/or DefTech sectors, from initial ideation to market launch. The incubation programs provide:

  ✔︎ Coaching by technology and business experts ; 

  ✔︎ Workshops led by DeepTech entrepreneurship experts ; 

  ✔︎ Mentorship by specialists in technology, NewSpace, and/or Defense ; 

  ✔︎ Privileged access to state-of-the-art equipment (X-FAB prototyping facility) ; 

  ✔︎ A network of industrial partners (Safran, Dassault, Thales, ArianeGroup), academic partners (IP Paris Interdisciplinary Center for Defense and Security Studies, Starburst, the Defense Innovation Agency (AID), IP Paris chairs in Complex Systems Architecture and AI-Optimized Defense, as well as Polytechnique's renewed Space Chair: Space Sciences and Challenges), and entrepreneurial partners (Polytechnique-supported startups) ; 

  ✔︎ Funding support (Bpifrance, fundraising, specialized investment funds such as Défense Angels); 

  ✔︎ Integration into an impact-driven innovation ecosystem. 

• ASD Success stories 

  Several startups originating from École Polytechnique and its X-UP incubator reflect the vitality and excellence of innovation and entrepreneurship in NewSpace and/or DefTech.

  These companies develop concrete solutions ranging from the decarbonization of air and space transport to cutting-edge technologies in imaging, artificial intelligence, and mission-critical security.

  By combining the eco-responsible utilization of space with the technological superiority of our defense systems, they exemplify the School’s commitment to responsible and strategic innovation—ready to meet the major environmental and geopolitical challenges of our century.

• Partnerships and networks

  The incubator actively participates in major industry events and innovation trade shows, such as Eurosatory, the Paris Air Show (SIAE), Euronaval, Opération CIEDS, the European Defense Innovation Forum, and the IP Paris Cybersecurity & Defense Meetings. These events provide ideal opportunities to showcase projects, schedule one-on-one meetings, expand professional networks, and stay informed on the latest trends.

  It also benefits from an extensive network of academic partners, including teaching and research chairs from École Polytechnique and Institut Polytechnique de Paris—notably through interdisciplinary centers such as CIEDS, Materials for Society, Hi! PARIS, Energy4Climate, and Seas and Oceans (Mers et Océan). Additionally, it relies on a network of specialized institutes, including ONERA, CNRS, CEA, ISAE-SUPAERO, ENSTA Paris, and the ASTech Paris Region competitiveness cluster.

✔︎ NewSpace: modern space industry driven by startups and the commercial private sector ; 

✔︎ DefTech: disruptive technologies dedicated to defense, security, and national sovereignty ; 

✔︎ Sovereignty: a state’s ability to control its critical technologies and data to guarantee strategic independence and freedom of action ; 

✔︎ Dual-use technology: innovation designed for civilian use and adapted for military applications, or vice versa ; 

✔︎ Constellation: coordinated network of dozens (or hundreds) of small satellites providing global coverage ; 

✔︎ Nanosatellite / CubeSat: standardized miniature satellite enabling massive cost reductions ; 

✔︎ Orbital transfer: space vehicle tasked with maneuvering a satellite into its exact final orbit ; 

✔︎ Space Situational Awareness (SSA): real-time mapping of space debris and objects to prevent collisions ; 

✔︎ Collaborative combat: tactical networking and real-time data sharing across operational forces ; 

✔︎ Trustworthy AI: secure military algorithm whose decision-making process is auditable and reliable ; 

✔︎ Sovereign cloud: storage infrastructure protecting strategic data from extraterritorial laws ; 

✔︎ Electronic warfare: utilization of the electromagnetic spectrum to intercept, disrupt, or jam adversary signals. 

• Join the École Polytechnique ASD ecosystem

  ✔︎ Explore our support programs and apply to the X-UP incubator to bring your vision to life and strengthen our technological sovereignty by driving industrial transformation. 

  ✔︎ Get in touch with the X-UP incubator team via our dedicated contact form. 

  ✔︎ Check out the latest NewSpace and DefTech news, as well as specialized websites such as CNES, Alliance NewSpace France, GIFAS (French Aerospace Industries Association), and the Ministry of the Armed Forces.