From 28 to 30 March 2023, the Special Operations Forces Innovation Network Seminar (SOFINS) will be held in Bordeaux, France, including conferences and an exhibition showcasing the latest innovations and technologies specially designed and developed for Special Forces Units.

SOFINS 2023 will be held in the military camp of Souge, near Bordeaux France from the 28 to 30 March 2023. (Picture source SOFINS)

The Cercle de l’Arbalette is organizing the 6th SOFINS edition on the Military Camp of Souge in Gironde, near Bordeaux (France, department 33) from March 28th – 29th to 30th 2023. This event comes to consecrate a year of meetings and intense work of the members of the Cercle de l’Arbalète.

Unique in Europe, this biannual event is the meeting point of high-tech industries with Special Forces and Special Units. During 3 days, small and medium-sized companies and large industrial groups will meet under the umbrella of the Cercle de l’Arbalète in order to offer unique solutions tailored to the needs of special operations.

The Souge camp will transform into a place of meetings and technical demonstrations: dynamic tests of equipment in operational-like conditions will allow innovative manufacturers to demonstrate the added value of their equipment for the operator of today and tomorrow. A new feature this year is an immersion in the SFs’ operating methods and tools.

Finally, a space reserved for emerging companies selected by the Cercle de l’Arbalète will be added to this exhibition: the SOFLAB. These emerging companies will have the privilege, for a whole morning, to speak in a short format in front of special forces to present their products.

Benoit de Saint Sernin, President of the Cercle de l’Arbalète, states: “The success of the first 5 SOFINS events shows how the evolution of threats requires the search for new technological solutions to meet the problems encountered by special forces in the field. We are relying on you and your presence to demonstrate to the international special forces community the relevance of the French industry’s solutions. Let’s live up to the audacity of our special forces!

Key figures of SOFINS 2021:

- 3,500 visitors, 253 exhibitors and 49 foreign Special Forces delegations Equipment testing on site
- 600 business meetings
- 3 prizes awarded during the SOFLAB competition

Army Recognition is one of the Official Media partners of SOFINS 2023 and will cover the event with news and video reports.