The Challenge consists in addressing the following issue:
What role for civil society in national defense by 2035?
How can it be mobilized? How important is it?
to win:
An illustration of your concept
by a professional illustrator
An official invitation
to take part in a Club RADAR workshop on strategic foresight and anticipation for defense.
A guided tour of FID
(Defense Innovation Forum) with the RADAR team, at the end of 2025
Many exclusive goodies
an app for collective mobilization
in local associations
2035. The government releases G.A.R.D.I.E.N*, an MMORPG game app with real-life implications. Defense and Citizenship Day is moved up to age 16 to allow young people to start playing. Each teenager must choose an avatar and a class that will guide their development in the game and in society.
The time invested in real-life classroom activities is converted into experience points (XP), which can be used to acquire equipment and bonuses for your avatar. Side quests may be offered to meet specific needs.
To ensure that this effort is not based solely on the appeal of video games, the government is introducing benefits directly linked to the level of the player's avatar. Players can unlock university credits, tax breaks, and more.
Each individual is required to pass at least one level per year for at least 10 years.
Thus, G.A.R.D.I.E.N (the Autonomous Group for Resilience and Integrated Defense Committed to the Nation) covers the wide range of defense needs through its five classes.
Blade Class: Territorial Defense.
Players who choose this class will undergo military training and will be directly integrated into the combat reserve. A shooting proficiency certificate = 10 XP One week of field training = 25 XP One exercise = 50 XP
Enlightenment Class: Influence.
Players who choose this class will be responsible for fact checking, monitoring, and influencing. 1 hour of monitoring = 15 XP 1 fact-checked video = 15 XP 1 influence operation = 50 XP
Powder Class: Industrial Resilience.
Players who choose this class strengthen the industrial and technological defense base (BITD). It covers both R&D and production. One hour of production = 25 XP Participation in a project = 35 XP
Seed Class: Civil Protection.
Players who choose this class protect populations from increasingly violent weather events. Participation in event safety = 15 XP One hour of awareness-raising or training = 10 XP Population evacuation, forest fires = 100 XP
*Autonomous Group for Resilience and Integrated Defense Committed to the Nation
By Léa C.
The reflections gathered here do not reflect the official position of the Ministry of the Armed Forces or that of the French government.
We have become techno-humans.
It is a driving force but also our weakness in many ways.
The interference of external powers, both private and state-owned, in our smartphones via social media is increasingly proving harmful in terms of:
- youth health,
- the cohesion of the nation, which is becoming increasingly polarized and individualistic,
- our brains are becoming dulled in part due to this digital drug.
In the event of a large-scale digital or cyber attack, we would be forced to revert to our primary means of information: human interaction and verbal communication.
Beyond digital technology, in the event of a physical attack on our territory, our ability to communicate with each other, whether at the level of a neighborhood, a building, or a village, remains essential.
The good news is that resistance networks already exist. They are none other than associations, mainly made up of volunteers.
More than one in three French people are members of a sports club that they attend regularly. The club—whether it's soccer, tennis, or karate—is a place recognized by everyone, located in the heart of the village or neighborhood. It is an apolitical community bound together by a common project and shared values.
Other existing associations include private condominiums, which are managed by condominium boards and their volunteers.
The proposal is to create a network of defense representatives within these hyper-local associations.
But here, there is no need to develop a reserve as such.
Rather, they are individuals who have received a few hours of training from the armed forces and are able to act as a bridge between military values and methods and the members of the association in which they work. All of this is done on a voluntary basis. Above all, they do not use fear-mongering rhetoric, but rather focus on transferring skills to build trust.
Their role:
1) Develop a culture of defense and security among association members. By providing them with a methodology in case of attack. They could teach association members how to create their own survival kit. Or teach life-saving techniques, just as we learn first aid.
2) Act as a relay for information in times of peace and in the event of an attack.
3) Inspire military vocations (active or reserve).
By Laure G.
The reflections gathered here do not reflect the official position of the Ministry of the Armed Forces or that of the French government.
The idea below stems from the jury's merging of two complementary ideas:
A committed and prepared civil society alongside the armed forces by 2035
Faced with the rise of hybrid, cyber, informational, terrorist, and environmental threats, defense can no longer be viewed as a domain reserved for the armed forces. It must become a shared culture, integrated into the daily lives of citizens, and conceived as a collective discipline of resilience and strategic preparedness.
In 2035, this mobilization will take two complementary forms: sports and civic defense training.
Sport as a vehicle for social cohesion and ties between the armed forces and the nation
- Children will benefit from sports classes and activities supervised by military personnel, such as orienteering and strategy video games, both during and outside of school hours.
- Teenagers will have access to video games developed in partnership between the armed forces and French companies, promoting both strategic thinking and awareness of defense issues.
- Adults will be able to take advantage of free weekly street workout classes offered throughout the country by military personnel, while military hospitals will open their Adapted Physical Activity (APA) programs to civilians.
A mandatory operational reserve structured around trainingAll European Union citizens residing in France between the ages of 16 and 50 will join a mandatory operational reserve, tailored to each individual's profile through training platforms and artificial intelligence.
- A platform shared by European Union countries will offer MOOCs and face-to-face training, enabling citizens to acquire and certify skills via open badges integrated into their Europass CV.
- European skills mapping and artificial intelligence will ensure an optimal match between civilian expertise and reserve missions.
The National Civil Preparedness Index (INPC): measuring and promoting commitment. From the age of 18, every citizen will take the INPC, a standardized test assessing their ability to serve their country in times of crisis (digital literacy, knowledge of institutions, resilience, spirit of service, etc.). Based on a short, flexible training course (10 to 20 hours online, in-person, or a combination of both), this 1,000-point score will gradually become essential for joining certain government agencies, sensitive companies, or prestigious universities, similar to the TOEFL or PIX.
The governance of this system would be entrusted to a National Civil Preparedness Institute, attached to the Ministry of the Armed Forces, responsible for designing training courses, administering tests, and issuing certifications. The new-generation Defense and Citizenship Day would be a mandatory first step, encouraging everyone to progress in their preparation.
…
By combining sport, training, operational reserves, and skills certification, civil society will be fully integrated into national defense. This sustainable, structured, and valued mobilization will make the link between the armed forces and the nation a pillar of social cohesion and ensure France's democratic resilience in the face of the challenges of 2035.
...
Merger of concepts by Claire B. and Jade B.
The reflections gathered here do not reflect the official position of the Ministry of the Armed Forces or that of the French government.
+120
Participations
11
Sectors of activity represented
among participants*
30
Days of reflection
to participate
*Defense / Security / Military - Government / Public Institutions / Administration - Industry / Aeronautics / Industrial Defense - Consulting / Business Services - Freelancers / Independent Contractors / Consultants - Research / Innovation / Think Tanks - Higher Education / Education / Students - Technology / Digital / Tech Innovation - Banking / Insurance / Finance - Commerce / Distribution - Culture / Media / Audiovisual
