As a first step, each company must express its interest by completing the short application form. Interested companies can then attend an information session in French and English to learn more about the program, meet program partners and ask questions. 

In a second phase, companies that wish to apply for the program will be asked to complete a more detailed application form. They will describe their company in full, explain the added value of their technological solution, and propose a use case for their first collaboration with Safran.  

The first selection phase will take place in May 2024, based on the information and documentation provided by each candidate. Participants that are selected during this first phase will receive an e-mail inviting them to the final jury session, which will take place by video call with Safran and Centech teams (20 minutes per company, including 5 minutes of pitch and 10 minutes of questions). 

The jury will be formed by Safran experts in business and corporate ventures, and by Centech representatives. Companies will be evaluated on the relevance of the use case they present, on the added value of their solution, and on the feasibility of a collaboration with Safran. 

The Safran Explore Canada program is a corporate accelerator of Safran. Its objective is to accelerate business, cooperation and investment opportunities between startups, scaleups and Safran. This program is not an incubation program and is not designed to support early-stage startups. However, support will be offered individually to each company according to their needs.  

The program includes three key moments: a startup meeting (in person at the offices of Centech, in Montreal, Quebec), a mid-term alignment meeting (virtual) and a final presentation event to demonstrate results and discuss next steps with Safran (in person, location to be defined).  

During the program, regular virtual meetings will be organized between the selected companies and different key players at Safran to facilitate the implementation of collaborations, for an average of 6 hours a month. Please note that the frequency of meetings may vary at certain key moments in the program, especially at the program’s launch and at its conclusion. 

Companies will benefit from on-demand coaching to help them structure their value proposition and business model and ensure the viability of their collaboration with Safran. Group workshops (master classes) will also be offered to help companies in their development. These workshops will be led by external experts from the Safran network, from Centech and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

At the end of the program, companies will be invited to take part in an “Innovation Showcase” where they will present their technological solution, their use case and the next steps for cooperation with Safran. Presentations will be made in front of Safran decision makers and innovation managers, to provide increased visibility and maximize the chances of developing a long-term cooperation with Safran. 

Companies may select only one specific challenge when applying to the Safran Explore Canada program. Please note that the “open challenge” will allow the selection of a single “favourite” company chosen by Safran. 

Program activities, including follow-ups, coaching and meetings with Safran’s technical experts and innovation managers, will take place mainly online, to keep travel costs to a minimum and preserve the environment.  

Please note that space will be available for in-person meetings at Centech in Montreal (Quebec, Canada). 

The kick-off meeting (June 11-12, 2024) will be held in person in Montreal, and the final “Innovation Showcase” (November 2024, date to be defined) will be held in person as well (location to be defined). 

This program does not require any equity investment from participating companies, nor does it charge any program fees to those participants.  

Certain travel expenses may be covered by Mitacs at the request of companies (if applicable), in the event of travel to France for the final “Innovation Showcase” event in November 2024. 

Travel expenses for attending the kick-off meeting in Montreal on June 11 and 12, 2024, will be defrayed by the participating companies. 

No transfer of intellectual property rights, in whole or in part, will be made without the prior written consent of the participating companies. Where necessary, intellectual property will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, depending on the implemented projects. 

Participating companies will be required to sign a non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement stipulating the main conditions governing any potential disclosure of confidential information, governing and protecting discussions and exchanges of information between the participating company and Safran. 

We invite you to consult the program’s legal notices.

Safran Corporate Ventures was created to connect Safran to the ecosystem of young innovative companies in the aviation, space and defense sectors. Safran Corporate Ventures supports these companies by providing Group expertise and financial resources for their development: access to an international network of experts, commercial and industrial exposure, implementation of commercial or development agreements between the portfolio’s startups and the Group’s various entities. 

As part of the program, Safran Corporate Ventures will facilitate exchanges between the selected companies and Safran’s business units, to accelerate communication and collaboration with teams and technical experts in charge of challenges.  

With an investment budget of 130 million euros, Safran Corporate Ventures bases its investment strategy on the following underlying principles:  

• Identifying the top disruptive technologies and innovations worldwide. 
• Actively investing alongside top co-investors, financial investors, and/or other corporate venture capital firms. 
• Providing long-term support for companies, both financially and through help and advice from Safran experts.