The European Policy Centre (EPC) is pleased to announce the European Defence Innovation Dialogue, taking place on 19 November 2025 in Brussels.

Organised under the EPC’s European Defence & Security Project (DefSecEU), this high-level Dialogue comes at a defining moment for Europe’s security. Russia’s war against Ukraine has reshaped the strategic landscape, while questions mount over the long-term US commitment to European defence. Europe has entered a new phase of rearmament and capability building. Yet higher defence budgets alone will not guarantee stronger armies or greater readiness. To ensure true resilience, Europe must become smarter, faster and stronger in how it innovates, procures and cooperates.

The Dialogue will provide a platform to discuss how Europe can accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies, strengthen its defence-industrial capacity and deepen collaboration among governments, industry, researchers and innovators. It will explore how to integrate new technologies – including AI, drones and directed-energy weapons – into NATO defence architecture, while ensuring that startups and SMEs are empowered to contribute to this transformation.

A particular focus will be given to how Europe can engage more closely with Ukraine’s fast-evolving defence-innovation ecosystem, whose battlefield-tested technologies have demonstrated world-class performance and agility.

You can download the full agenda here.

The public sessions are open to EPC members, the media and NATO and EU officials.