Paris, June 17, 2025 – Sopra Steria, a major player in European tech, announces the signing of a letter of intent with the École de l’air et de l’espace (EAE) to enter into a Framework Agreement for scientific and technical cooperation. The aim of this collaboration is to strengthen joint research into information systems, artificial intelligence and human-system interaction in the aerospace field.
Industry and research working together to anticipate aerospace technology challenges
The École de l’air et de l’espace, a public institution of higher education under the supervision of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, trains all French air force officers and is supported by a renowned research center, the CREA (Centre de Recherche de l’École de l’air et de l’espace). The latter explores the transformation of aerospace systems and their military uses.
For its part, Sopra Steria, through its subsidiary CS GROUP – France, has a long-standing commitment to the major programs of the defense industrial and technological base (BITD), particularly in the air and space sectors. CS is already working with CREA on a number of projects, such as anti-drone systems.
Through the perspective of a cyber-socio-technical system combining human interaction and advanced technologies, this project will draw on joint research in signal and image processing, artificial intelligence and cognitive psychology, in order to advance the state of the art on their interactions.
Data and information fusion, knowledge engineering and autonomous agents will be at the heart of the work, while advances in quantum computing and cryptography will be key to guaranteeing security and performance. By crossing disciplines, the project will guide the design of environments where sensors (active or passive), artificial intelligence (machine or symbolic learning) and humans (decision-makers, information sources or system designers) will interact effectively, optimizing decision-making in complex contexts, notably aerospace.
Applications targeted by this ambition include anti-drone warfare, in its various components and functions, simulation and interaction between sensors, artificial intelligence and human factors for command and control systems.
In addition to the scientific aspects, the agreement could also encourage cross-training between academia and industry, with Sopra Steria hosting interns, Sopra Steria employees taking part in EAE courses and co-supervising doctoral theses.
“This partnership with the École de l’air et de l’espace illustrates our commitment to putting technology at the service of responsible sovereignty and innovation. By combining academic excellence and industrial know-how, we are helping to develop breakthrough solutions in key areas such as artificial intelligence, cyberdefense and complex systems engineering. It is in this collaboration between science and operations that the European technological superiority of tomorrow will be built”, declares Pierre Lopez, CEO of CS GROUP, a subsidiary of Sopra Steria.
“This structured cooperation with a key player like Sopra Steria reinforces our ambition in terms of innovation and applied research, and the actions we have already undertaken together. It will enable us to cross-fertilize the skills of Sopra Steria and our teacher-researchers to explore the technological fields critical to the air and space operations of the future”, emphasizes Air Force Major General Pierre Réal, Director General of the École de l’air et de l’espace.
This partnership is fully in line with Sopra Steria’s ambition to strengthen European technological sovereignty, based on responsible innovation and collaboration between academic research and industrial excellence.
About Sopra Steria
Sopra Steria, a major player in the European Tech sector, with 50,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, is recognized for its consulting, services and digital solutions. It helps its customers drive their digital transformation and achieve concrete, lasting benefits. The Group provides a global response to the competitiveness challenges of large companies and organizations, combining in-depth knowledge of business sectors and technologies with a collaborative approach. Sopra Steria puts people at the heart of what it does, and is committed to helping its customers make the most of digital technology to build a positive future. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €5.8 billion
For more information : www.soprasteria.com/fr
About CS GROUP
As a designer, integrator, and operator of mission critical systems, CS GROUP, a subsidiary of the Sopra Steria Group, operates in defense and security, space, aeronautics, and cybersecurity markets. With 3,200 employees combining a high level of technical and business expertise, CS GROUP is its clients’ trusted partner for the integration and deployment of operational systems that ensure Command, Control & Communication of their missions. CS Group is present in Europe, North America and the United Arab Emirates.
About Ecole de l’air et de l’Espace
The Ecole de l’air et de l’espace, (EAE) is a military grande école with the status of an Établissement Public à caractère Scientifique, Culturel et Professionnel – Grand Établissement (EPSCP-GE) by decree n°2018-1158 of December 14, 2018 as amended. It is placed under the supervision of the Minister of the Armed Forces and trains all air force and space officers. It welcomes 1,400 civilian and military students every year. The Centre de Recherche de l’Ecole et de l’Air et de l’Espace is the school’s research unit. In 2020, CREA was listed in the Répertoire National des Structures de Recherche (National Directory of Research Structures) after being evaluated by the French High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (HCERES). As a multi-disciplinary research unit studying transformations in aerospace systems and their military uses, CREA contributes directly and indirectly to preparing the future of the air and space force (personnel training, organization, technologies).
