Regions strengthening the EU defence industry: Dual-use for a resilient European defence innovation ecosystem

The Polish NCBR Office in Brussels, together with Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation (Ł-ILOT) and the Polish Armament Group (PGZ), and with the support of the Ministry of Defence, invite you to an event dedicated to shaping the future of European defence cooperation under the European Defence Fund (EDF). This dynamic discussion and brokerage event, titled “Forging Alliances for European Security”, will provide a platform to exchange ideas, present project concepts, and foster cooperation in defence research and innovation within the EDF and the wider European defence community. Key Objectives: Foster EDF community engagement Strengthen cross-border collaboration Drive innovation for a more unified and resilient European defence sector Event Details: Date: 22 September 2025 Time: 14:00 – 19:00, followed by a networking reception Venue: Rue Belliard 40, Brussels (5th floor) Mark your calendars and join this important occasion to help shape the next chapter of European defence innovation. The detailed agenda will be shared closer to the event. Contact Person: Maciej Zdanowicz, EU Policy Advisor, NCBR Office in Brussels +32 488 477 284 e: maciej.zdanowicz@ncbr.gov.pl

In the framework of the European Network of Defence-related Regions (ENDR), the European Commission’s DG DEFIS, together with AED Cluster Portugal – the Portuguese Aeronautics, Space and Defence Industry Association – will host the European conference “Advancing European Cyber Defence and Cybersecurity: Technologies, Operations and Opportunities”. The event will take place on 1–2 October 2025 at the Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon. The conference will focus on the cyber domain and its central role in strengthening resilience and security across both civilian and defence sectors. Discussions will address emerging technologies and services such as quantum-secure communications, AI-enabled response, red teaming and blockchain applications. Further sessions will highlight operational preparedness, situational awareness, protection of networks and infrastructures, cyber vigilance and incident response. Attention will also be given to European instruments supporting dual-use innovation, defence R&D and cybersecurity. The event will bring together a wide European audience, including defence, aerospace and ICT companies, operational experts from both the military and civilian spheres, research institutions, academia, as well as institutional representatives and policymakers. Preliminary Agenda 1 October: Opening evening with keynote and networking cocktail 2 October: Full-day conference with plenary sessions, thematic panels, institutional contributions and B2B/F2F meetings Date: 1–2 October 2025 Location: Centro Cultural de Belém, Lisbon, Portugal More details on the agenda, confirmed speakers and registration can be found on event website here. 

As part of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2025, the SUD – Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region will host a session dedicated to defence on 14 October 2025 at 14:30 at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels. Titled “Regional and European Contributions to Defence: Aligning Priorities and Funding Strategies”, this event will address how regional and European actors can work together to strengthen Europe’s defence industry at a time of increasing security and sovereignty challenges. The 90-minute policy debate will bring together European and regional representatives to exchange views on how to support the defence sector. The discussion will focus on experiences, best practices, innovative solutions, and the current challenges of aligning priorities and funding strategies in support of the European defence industry. Date: 14 October 2025 Time: 14:30 Location: European Committee of the Regions, Brussels, Belgium Registration is available via the official event link.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Spanish Air Force will host the 1st Preparation Meeting for AM Village 2026 from 21–23 October 2025 in Albacete, Spain. The meeting will take place at Posada Real, Calle Alcalde Conangla, 18, 02001 Albacete. The AM Village initiative focuses on Additive Manufacturing (AM) – commonly known as 3D printing – as a key enabler for military logistics. The 3rd AM Village Workshop 2026 itself will be held in March 2026 at the Albacete Air Base. Its main objectives are to identify military use cases where AM technology can provide effective solutions and to strengthen cooperation between industry, academia, and the armed forces. Participation in AM Village 2026 requires attendance at this Preparation Meeting. Industry and academic participants are invited to provide a short brief (maximum 5 pages) outlining their planned contributions to the 2026 workshop. Briefs should be submitted by 10 October 2025 to Martin.HUBER@eda.europa.eu. Practical Information: Date: 21–23 October 2025 Location: Posada Real, Albacete, Spain Participation: Free of charge (travel and accommodation at participants’ expense) Registration deadline: 5 October 2025 (COB) Registration link: Register here Draft Agenda Highlights: Day 1 (21 October): Introduction, overview of AM Village 2026, national AM use cases, discussion round, hosted dinner (optional) Day 2 (22 October): Industry & academia capability briefings, discussion sessions, agenda drafting Day 3 (23 October): Visit to Albacete Air Base and AM Village location, conclusion and wrap-up Contact: For further information, please contact EDA Project Officer Logistics: Martin Huber – Martin.HUBER@eda.europa.eu Please send your briefing in PDF format NLT 10 October 2025 to Martin.HUBER@eda.europa.eu. Register via this link! This meeting will set the foundation for AM Village 2026, fostering collaboration and preparing use cases that demonstrate the potential of additive manufacturing in the military domain.