Defence Innovation Fund

The Defence Innovation Fund is a state-backed venture capital and innovation support initiative based in Paris, France, that invests in early-stage startups developing dual-use and dedicated military technologies. Operating as a major strategic investment vehicle, the entity deploys an estimated annual budget ranging from €50 million to €100 million to finance critical technological advancements across the defense sector. The fund is actively managed in partnership with state investment bank Bpifrance and operates under the direct strategic guidance of the French Defense Innovation Agency. Its core investment mandate targets high-priority technological sectors including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and aerospace, providing capital to domestic technology companies such as Preligens, Pasqal, and Unseenlabs. The Defence Innovation Fund was officially established in 2017 by the French Ministry of Armed Forces to secure national sovereignty over emerging defense capabilities and supply chains.