The 29th edition of EURONAVAL 2024 closes its doors this evening, concluding four days of a major international event marked by regular political and institutional visits, exclusive contract announcements and signings, and a rich program focused on the future of navies and naval innovations. With 480 exhibitors, 150 official delegations from France, Europe and all over the world, and the presence of 350 accredited journalists, EURONAVAL confirms more than ever its status as the world’s leading naval event. Here are the highlights of the past four days.
1. High-level political and institutional visits
On its opening day, the show welcomed the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, who visited defense companies to discover the latest developments in armament programs. The show was also honored by a visit from the Minister for the Sea, Mr. Fabrice Loher, and Mr. Jean-Louis Thieriot, Minister Delegate to the Minister for the Armed Forces. This major event was also attended by a number of members of parliament, including deputies from the French National Assembly’s Defense Committee, senators from the Foreign Affairs and Armed Forces Committee, and members of the European Parliament.
The Secretary General for the Sea, Mr Didier Lallement, the Secretary General for Defense and National Security, Mr Stéphane Bouillon, the Delegate General for Armaments, Mr Emmanuel Chiva, the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, and the President of MEDEF, Mr Patrick Martin, also marked this exceptional edition with their presence.
The show also welcomed the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Romania, as well as the Ministers of Defense of Albania, Cyprus, Mauritania, Montenegro, Poland and Portugal, and some twenty Marine and Armed Forces Chiefs of Staff from friendly and allied countries. Coastguard and police delegations from five continents were also present.
2. Global trends at the end of this year’s EURONAVAL
- A transformation in the operational capabilities of navies and the maritime defense strategies of major powers
- Significant increase in investment in small and large warships
- Re-industrialization and sovereignty are once again central issues, particularly in Europe, in order to maintain strategic autonomy.
- Adoption of increasingly sophisticated weapons systems, including artificial intelligence
- Massive droning of navies: drones are becoming essential tools in modern naval combat.
These trends and challenges are also highlighted in the exclusive “World Defence Shipbuilding” study. EURONAVAL is the only show in the world to offer such an in-depth and up-to-date mapping of the global shipbuilding industry. An asset particularly appreciated by industry professionals ! The study is available here.
3. Areas dedicated to discussion and debate for exhibitors and visitors alike
The EURONAVAL TV set : Ideally located at the heart of the exhibition hall, the EURONAVAL TV set played a central role, with 31 highlights broadcasted live on all screens, including :
- 6 premium roundtables guiding the workshops’ topics of study
- 8 thematic focuses
- 17 exclusive interviews, including 5 EURONAVAL AWARDS winners presenting their innovative solutions
- 59 speakers in all
All these presentations will be available in the coming days on the EURONAVAL Youtube channel.
Conferences and workshops provided invaluable opportunities for exchange, with exhibitors, institutional players and researchers sharing their views on major contemporary naval issues. A few highlights:
- 34 thematic workshops explored key topics with over 100 speakers from 70 exhibitors, think tanks and institutions.
- These presentations attracted the attention of over 1,500 listeners, captivated by a wide range of topics, including resilience at sea, underwater drone swarms and maritime infrastructure protection.
- All along, innovations in artificial intelligence were omnipresent, as were concerns about rising tensions at sea.
4. Key figures of EURONAVAL 2024
- 480 exhibitors, including 55% from abroad
- 26,000 professional visits
- 30 exhibiting nationalities
- 13 national pavilions
- 150 official delegations from 79 countries
- 1,250 B-to-B meetings organized between manufacturers
- 1,500 meetings with foreign official delegations at manufacturers’ stands
- 350 accredited journalists
Hugues d’Argentré, EURONAVAL Show Director :
“EURONAVAL 2024 exceeded all our expectations, both in terms of the quality and number of visitors, and in terms of the numerous exchanges and key signatures that punctuated the four-day event. This enthusiasm proves the confidence that the global players in the naval sector grant to EURONAVAL to support the major changes taking place in the industry. We are proud to be able to offer the event that is helping to shape the navies of tomorrow.”