Battlefield redefined 2026: Modern technologies with dual-use potential for enhancing security, defence and space resilience

In the framework of the European Network of Defence-related Regions (ENDR), DG DEFIS—together with ENDR member CARIE and the Cyprus Defence & Space Industry Cluster—invites you to Nicosia, Cyprus, for a high-level European hybrid event dedicated to the future of dual-use innovation across Defence, Security, and Space.

The event will take place in the capital of Cyprus, at Europe’s eastern frontier—an historic strategic crossroads between three continents. Held under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency and as part of the activities marking Cyprus’ assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026, the event will welcome high-level VIP participation from across Europe and beyond.

Bringing together a conference and a static exhibition featuring Cypriot and European manufacturers, this forum offers a unique opportunity for industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and innovators to shape the future of European defence and dual-use technology.

Thematic Focus

The conference will bring together stakeholders from defence, security, research, and civilian technology to discuss the opportunities and challenges of dual-use technologies. The program focuses on five key thematic areas:

1. Strengthening the EU’s Defence Industrial Readiness

This session examines how Europe builds defence industrial readiness in practice. It brings together EU institutions, national authorities, innovation actors and industry to explore how policy, technology and industrial participation translate into credible defence and dual-use capabilities, with Cyprus as a concrete national example.

2. Force Multipliers and Future Battlefields

This session examines how the character of warfare is evolving under the pressure of hybrid threats, cyber operations and growing reliance on space-enabled services. Drawing on lessons from recent conflicts and operational experience, it highlights how these domains act as force multipliers, expose new vulnerabilities and shape Europe’s future defence preparedness and resilience.

3. Digital and Electronic Force Multipliers for the Modern Battlefield

This session examines the digital and electronic capabilities that underpin information superiority in modern operations. It highlights command and control, interoperability, secure communications, electronic warfare and AI-enabled decision-making as critical enablers across multi-domain environments.

4. Operating in Contested Environments: Platforms and Protection for a Changing Battlefield

This session examines deployable defence and dual-use capabilities that ensure survivability, mobility and operational effectiveness. It brings together land platforms, protected mobility, soldier systems, unmanned assets and system integration solutions that support forces in contested operational settings.

5. Financing and Absorbing Europe’s Defence Transformation

Scaling defence and dual-use innovation depends not only on the availability of EU financing instruments but also on industry's capacity to absorb capital, integrate advanced technologies, and deploy capabilities at scale. This session examines how EU-level financial tools, commercial banks and large industrial actors interact to bridge the gap between innovation, industrial readiness and sustained production of defence and dual-use capabilities.

6. From Innovation to Deployment

Scaling defence and dual-use innovation depends not only on the availability of EU financing instruments but also on industry's capacity to absorb capital, integrate advanced technologies, and deploy capabilities at scale. This session examines how EU-level financial tools, commercial banks and large industrial actors interact to bridge the gap between innovation, industrial readiness and sustained production of defence and dual-use capabilities.

Who Should Attend?

This event is designed for professionals and organisations working at the nexus of technology, security, and policymaking, including:

• Defence and security professionals
• Civilian technology innovators
• Government and EU representatives
• Academia and research institutions
• Ethics and legal experts
• SMEs and startups
• International organisations and media