Exclusive Roundtable on Tech in Defence

This closed-door roudtable aims to strategically explore the transformative potential of digital dual-use technologies for European defence and security.

Building on lessons learned from Ukraine’s experience, the event will examine how the EU can further accelerate the development and adoption of these technologies. A focal point will be the launch of the EU-UA Dual-Use & Security Tech Council following Ukraine’s innovative digital defence transformation.

The discussion will also highlight DIGITALEUROPE’s defence paper Europe: A Secure and Digital Powerhouse, which advocates for streamlined funding initiatives like BRAVE1 and DIANA, designed to fast-track start-ups and critical defence technologies. The agenda will cover boosting public-private partnerships, promoting market unification, and tackling standardisation disparities in EU defence systems.

Participation is by invitation only

Moderator and Speakers

Moderator: Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, Director General of DIGITALEUROPE

• Kateryna Chernohorenko, Deputy Minister of Defence, Ukraine
• James Appathurai, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber, NATO
• Mike Wigston, Director, MyDefence
• Pedro José Hernández, Senior Vice President, Nokia Defense International
• Mr Martin Jõesaar, Programme Officer, EU Defence Innovation Office in Kyiv
• Umit Cayan, SAP, Chair of the DIGITAL Defence Working Group
• Federica Valente, Hub for EU Defence Innovation Manager, European Defence Agency.
• Olivier Cusworth, Senior Policy Officer, Security and Defence Office, European Investment Bank.