EU Funds 2021–2027 and Beyond: Seminar in Athen

On October 27–28, 2026, the European Young Professionals Defense Summit will take place in Malmö, Sweden. The conference is organized by the European Commission (DG DEFIS) as part of the European Network of Defense-related Regions (ENDR), in collaboration with the Swedish Defense and Security Industry Association (SOFF). The event is primarily intended for young professionals and those at the beginning of their careers in the European defense sector. Its goal is to connect the next generation of experts across Europe, facilitate the exchange of experiences, and offer deeper insight into the strategic, industrial, and technological changes currently shaping European defense. More detailed information about the program, speakers, and registration options will be posted later.

The seminar “Programming and Managing EU Funds in the 2028–2034 Period”, organised by the European Institute for Strategic Development, will take place on 4–6 November 2026 in Rome, Italy. The seminar will focus on the proposed EU funding framework for 2028–2034, covering strategic programming, National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), performance-based financing, governance, financial management and institutional readiness. The programme will include practical workshops, case studies and negotiation simulations, led by Ramona Moldovan, Deputy General Secretary of the Romanian Ministry of Energy. The seminar is intended for public authorities, EU programme managers, audit and control bodies, and other professionals involved in EU funding. Further information and registration: www.euroinstitute.eu Contact: karolina.brzezinska@euroinstitute.eu

On November 25–26, 2026, the conference “From Lab to Field: Deep Tech Dual-Use Innovation for Defense” will take place in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The event is organized by the European Commission (DG DEFIS) and the province of North Brabant as part of the European Network of Defense-related Regions (ENDR), in collaboration with other Dutch partners. The conference will focus on the transfer of deep tech and high-tech innovations into specific defense and security applications and on strengthening cooperation among European innovation ecosystems. The first day will feature expert presentations, interactive workshops, an exhibition, matchmaking, and networking, while the second day will include visits to selected research facilities and companies within the Eindhoven region’s innovation ecosystem.  Details regarding the program, speakers, and registration will be announced at a later date.

On 27 November 2026, Dublin will host the high-level defence industry conference “Agile by Design: Innovating Europe’s Security and Resilience”, organised by the Irish Department of Defence as part of the Irish Presidency. The full-day event will bring together SMEs, research organisations, EU institutions, financial institutions and government agencies to discuss the future of European security, defence and resilience. The programme will focus on the integration of SMEs into the European security and defence ecosystem, cross-border cooperation and EU investment in defence capabilities, as well as agile financing strategies supporting innovation. Particular attention will also be given to access to private capital for defence start-ups, European and Irish support instruments and opportunities linked to the proposed European Competitiveness Fund. The conference will feature high-level representatives from institutions including the European Space Agency (ESA), European Investment Bank (EIB), European Commission, European Parliament and European Defence Agency (EDA). Further information about the conference is available on the official website of the Irish Presidency.