Sovereign Robotics: A Strategic Asset for France’s Defense Industry

As geopolitical tensions rise and technological dependency becomes a national security issue, industrial sovereignty has returned to the forefront.
In critical sectors such as defense, aerospace, space, and energy, decision-makers now aim to secure control over their technologies, software, and data.
Sovereignty is no longer limited to physical manufacturing, it also encompasses system security and the protection of sensitive information.
At the heart of this transformation, sovereign robotics is emerging as a key driver of competitiveness, security, and strategic autonomy.

Sovereignty: A New Industrial Criterion

Until recently, sovereignty was mostly a political or digital cybersecurity topic.
Today, it has become a rational industrial criterion.

For defense, aerospace, or space players, choosing sovereign technologies means ensuring operational continuity and data security.

This shift is already visible in the digital and AI sectors.
In January 2026, French startup Mistral AI signed a strategic partnership with the Ministry of the Armed Forces to “guarantee the technological sovereignty and excellence of French defense” (L’Usine Nouvelle – Jan 9, 2026).
A few days later, Dassault Aviation took part in a €200 million funding round for Harmattan AI, a startup focused on developing sovereign AI models (Les Échos – Jan 13, 2026).

But this pursuit of autonomy goes beyond data.
Without control of production systems, hardware, and robotics infrastructure, sovereignty remains incomplete.

Robotics Under Constraint: Compliance, Cybersecurity, and Traceability

Robotics is entering a new era of regulatory maturity.

Two major frameworks are currently reshaping the European industrial landscape:

• The EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which came into force on December 10, 2024, introduces strict obligations for cybersecurity and long-term software maintenance.
  Starting in 2027, all connected products sold in Europe will need to provide documented security, component traceability, and vulnerability management.

• The new ISO 10218:2025 standard modernizes robot safety and establishes an explicit link to cybersecurity, covering protection against unauthorized access and network attacks, in alignment with the IEC 62443 industrial cybersecurity framework.

These requirements also address the protection of data handled by robotic systems.
Industrial robots now collect and process vast amounts of operational information,  production metrics, maintenance parameters, and in some cases, customer data.
Ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and European data hosting is now a central element of digital sovereignty.

The value of a robot is no longer defined only by its mechanical precision but also by its security, software upgradability, and long-term compliance.
In short, robotics is no longer neutral , it binds manufacturers and integrators to long-term accountability.

Sovereign Robotics: The Silent Engine of Defense

The defense sector is undergoing a phase of expansion and diversification unprecedented in recent decades.
Alongside industry giants such as Airbus, Thales, Safran, and Dassault, a new generation of industrial players is emerging in cybersecurity, software, and robotics.

According to The Conversation (Jan 2026), this marks a “structural transformation” where collaboration between startups, SMEs, and major contractors has become a driver of innovation.

Companies like Shark Robotics,  which delivered 40 Colossus robots to Ukraine for critical missions (L’Usine Digitale, 2024),  or Renault, which recently entered the combat drone manufacturing sector (Les Échos, Jan 20, 2026), embody this new dynamic.

Before any system can be deployed operationally, it must first be designed, assembled, tested, and maintained.
At every stage, sovereign robotics plays a critical role — automating key industrial processes, ensuring operational reliability, and guaranteeing European compliance and security standards.

Building a Sovereign Robotics Ecosystem

Across Europe, robotics is emerging as a pillar of dual-use technologies, serving both civilian and military needs.
This vision was at the heart of the DefTech Conference, held in Amsterdam on January 15, 2026, and organized by La French Tech.

We attended to represent French robotics, alongside Airbus, Exotrail, and other European sovereign tech players.

The event fostered discussions on how modular, locally developed, and secure technologies can strengthen Europe’s industrial sovereignty.
It reinforced a conviction we share: robotics, like AI and cybersecurity, is a strategic building block of Europe’s technological autonomy.

France is gradually developing an integrated robotics value chain, capable of meeting both civilian and defense needs:

• local design and prototyping,
• automated manufacturing,
• compliance with European standards,
• maintenance and support in short supply chains.

Our Commitment to Sovereign Robotics

At Niryo, we are proud to be part of this movement.
We design and manufacture robotic arms, actuators, and modular automation solutions, all fully developed and assembled in France.
Our mission: to help manufacturers automate their processes with sovereign, secure, and high-performance robotic technologies.

Over the past two years, we have reshored 50% of our supply chain from Asia to France and Europe.
Today, more than 70% of our components are sourced from French suppliers.
This full control of the hardware and software value chain enables us to guarantee embedded cybersecurity, traceability, and long-term reliability.

Our software stack is developed and hosted in Europe, ensuring data protection, transparency, and digital sovereignty.
We believe industrial sovereignty depends on mastering critical technologies, and robotics,  by bridging the physical and digital worlds,  is one of its most powerful enablers.

In both defense and civilian industries, French robotics plays a decisive role in ensuring technological autonomy and secure production chains.
By mastering our robots, our components, and our software, we contribute to strengthening the sovereignty of European industry.

And today, more than ever, that is a strategic imperative.