Since its launch in 2022, CEE Space & Defense Day has rapidly evolved into a leading regional forum, attracting more than 500 participants annually and an expanding line-up of senior European and international speakers. By bringing together government, industry, academia, investors, and innovators, the event promotes strategic cooperation and technological advancement across the space, defense, and dual-use sectors, strengthening the region’s competitiveness.

In 2026, the event will place Central and Eastern Europe at the heart of the discussion. Its overarching ambition is to overcome the fragmentation of the region’s space and defense ecosystems, foster cross-border collaboration, and integrate CEE more effectively into global value chains, institutional networks, and flows of capital, knowledge, technology, and talent. By strengthening regional supply chains, generating venture-capital deal flow, enabling joint R&D and innovation initiatives, and investing in talent development, Space & Defense Day will contribute to a more connected, resilient, sovereign, and sustainable CEE innovation ecosystem.

Szinkópalánc szekvenciák

Why Attend?

The New Battlespace: Space, AI & Autonomous Defense

Discover how trusted AI, autonomous systems, counter-UAS technologies, cybersecurity and electronic warfare are transforming multi-domain operations. Explore the growing importance of space-based intelligence, secure connectivity and positioning, and how the satellites, data and critical infrastructure supporting modern security can remain protected, resilient and sustainable.

From Innovation to Resiliency: Capital, Procurement & Industrial Scale

Meet the startups, investors, established companies, public buyers and end users turning dual-use innovation into operational capability. Examine the complete journey from venture funding and joint R&D to validation, faster procurement, manufacturing scale-up and resilient supply chains, all strengthening CEE’s industrial base and connecting it to European and global markets.

Connecting CEE: Regional Collaboration, Global Reach

Help overcome fragmentation across the CEE space and defense ecosystems by building cross-border partnerships among government, industry, investors and academia. Access exclusive networking opportunities that connect CEE stakeholders directly with global leaders in space, defense and dual-use innovation.

Fríg tetrakord

Speakers

All speakers

Kathleen Karika

Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations

NASA

Keynote

12:30

–

12:40

Arnaud Danjean

Former Chair | Senior Research Associate

European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) | Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

Keynote

11:35

–

11:50

Brigadier General David Morpurgo

Assistant Chief of Staff

Strategic Development of Forces Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, SHAPE, NA

Horia-Răzvan Botiș

Vice-Chairman

NATO Industrial Advisory Group

Eszter Lakos

Member of the European Parliament; Head of the Hungarian National Delegation in the EPP Group

Substitute Member of the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE)

Branislav Revay

Senior Manager

BlackBerry

Plagális kadencia

Highlights from Last Year’s Space & Defense Day

A quick look back at our previous event – fantastic moments, inspiring keynotes, and an incredible community. We look forward to welcoming you again this year at the Anna Grand Hotel in Balatonfüred!