The Chair spoke on Wednesday 18 November 2020 at the CoPDA (Cours de Perfectionnement Défense et Aérospatial), organised online by the Defence & Aerospace Chair, led by General (2S) Laurent.
The event provided an opportunity to present the work of the members of the Chair to an audience of auditors representing manufacturers in the defence sector.
Jean Belin, Chairholder, presented a overview of France's defence technological and industrial base (DTIB) emphasising the methodological difficulties involved in its definition and measurement. On the basis of its work, it also addressed the following issues specific characteristics of defence companies when compared with companies in the civilian sector. The problems of financing defence companies were also presented, with a view to technological and financial change of the global economy.
Josselin Droff, a researcher at the Chair, presented the the economic challenges of Maintaining Operational Readiness (MCO) defence equipment. The presentation was based on the author's various works on the subject, including a discussion on the issue of changes in equipment costs and availability. The main drivers of costs were presented, as well as various levers for action put in place by the government and industry in an attempt to reduce costs and/or improve availability. By relying on a recent study by the author, the question of technological revolution in the MCO was presented (connected objects, 3D printing, augmented reality and virtual reality, robots and cobots).
Julien Malizard, Deputy Chairholder, presented the issues at stake in the Chair. the economic impact of defence activities, In this context, the focus is on the link between macroeconomic impact, regional impact and the technological impact on businesses. On the basis of work carried out by the author and economic literature over the last ten years, it appears that defence generates positive economic spin-offs, but his usefulness as an economic policy instrument is questionable.
