Stratégie Horizon Dual
Stratégie Horizon Dual
Financing France and Europe’s technological rearmament.
SHD aims to support the development of innovative and critical technologies in France and Europe. These technologies have dual-use applications, serving both civilian and defense purposes, in sectors that contribute to French and European strategic autonomy, including high-performance computing, defense and security, space and communications, as well as robotics and physical AI.
Financing high-growth dual-use technology companies
In a geopolitical context marked by intensifying technological competition and the resurgence of sovereignty challenges, mastering critical technologies has become essential to competitiveness and strategic independence.
SHD invests in high-growth French and European companies that have established their market presence and demonstrated the strength of their value proposition.
These companies are built on a strong scientific foundation and have developed proven cutting-edge technologies. Their main challenge now lies in scaling up their commercial and industrial operations.
Targeted sectors
SHD targets high-growth dual-use technology companies operating in four strategic sectors for the French and European economies:
➔ High-Performance Computing and Advanced Computing: Semiconductors, quantum computing (hardware and software), next-generation memory technologies, photonics, and low-level software layers.
➔ Defense and Security : Defense AI, next-generation command and control (NGC2), next-generation sensors, signal resilience, cybersecurity, and intelligence.
➔ Space and Communications: Equipment for constellations, antennas and ground segments, next-generation PNT, space command and control (C2), and RPOD.
➔ Robotics and Physical AI: Advanced industrial robotics, robotic operating systems, and AI for design, industrialization, and manufacturing.
"In a profoundly transformed geopolitical environment, our priority is to support high-growth French and European dual-use technology companies in successfully scaling up. By financing their industrialization, production capabilities, and commercial development, we aim to foster the emergence of technology leaders capable of accelerating innovation, securing supply chains, and sustainably strengthening France and Europe’s strategic autonomy."
Nicolas Dubourg & Patricia Salomon
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ISALT
At the service of French and European strategic autonomy
Europe has major strengths — a rapidly accelerating innovation ecosystem, a world-class scientific and academic foundation, and highly recognized talent — yet a funding gap remains for high-tech companies as they transition to scale.
Through SHD, ISALT helps bridge this gap and enables high-growth technology companies to accelerate their development, industrialize their solutions, and expand into new markets, notably by fostering connections between civilian applications and defense use cases.
The creation of the SHD is based on 3 strong convictions
➔ Mastering these critical technologies has become a strategic imperative: the new geopolitical landscape marks the end of a model based on permanently open markets and supply chains that were taken for granted. In this context, control over critical technologies is a determining factor for our security, our decision-making autonomy, and our competitiveness.
➔ The dual-use model accelerates innovation and scaling:
Civilian and defense applications create complementary growth dynamics. Defense markets support the development of cutting-edge technologies that meet particularly demanding requirements, while civilian markets provide greater volumes and international deployment potential. This complementarity drives innovation, market diversification, and economies of scale.
➔ Europe has unique strengths to transform scientific excellence into industrial leadership:
Europe has the expertise, talent, and innovation capabilities required to foster the emergence of global technology leaders. It must now strengthen scale-up financing to enable its companies to develop industrial capabilities, enter new markets, and reduce dependencies in critical infrastructures.