XPONENTIAL Europe 2026 focuses on Security and Defence

Hybrid threats, drone attacks and cyber operations are changing the requirements for defence and protection of critical infrastructure. Against this backdrop, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and robotics are relevant to security. They will be the focus of XPONENTIAL Europe, which will take place from 24 to 26 March 2026. The topics of defence and dual use will be on the agenda of the trade fair and supporting programme.

The centrepiece is a specialist conference organised by the German Armed Forces, which will highlight the operational, technological and political perspectives of an increasingly unmanned operational environment. It will take place on 25 March 2026 in the Defense Theater in Hall 1 of the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre and is open to all visitors to XPONENTIAL Europe. It will be complemented by a curated, bilateral dialogue format organised by the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany (BCCG), which will bring together political decision-makers, armed forces and industry in an exclusive setting in the auditorium in CCD South, by invitation only.

Unmanned systems in focus of security and defence

Under the title “Operational and Innovative Security and Defence Perspectives of an Unmanned Environment”, the Bundeswehr conference will highlight the operational role of unmanned systems in the context of security and defence policy, combining operational reality, capability development and technological innovation. The conference is aimed at a specialist audience from politics, the armed forces, procurement, security authorities, industry and research, and is supported by Diehl Defence, one of Germany’s three largest defence companies. Topics under discussion include the current threat situation in the Euro-Atlantic area, deterrence and defence through unmanned systems in all domains, and national security and governance issues at home. Other key topics include the protection of critical infrastructure, operational lessons learned from current conflicts, innovation and procurement processes, their implementation in existing structures, and the use of artificial intelligence in the context of automation and the principle of “meaningful human control”.

“Unmanned systems are now a key factor in modern security and defence architectures. The Munich Security Conference has once again clearly demonstrated this. It is crucial that operational experience, technological development and political frameworks are closely interlinked. With our presence at XPONENTIAL Europe, we want to enter direct dialogue with research and industry and look forward to many discussions and contacts. At the same time, together with the supporting programme “Defence meets Wirtschaft” organised by our partner, the British Chamber of Commerce Germany, we are sending a strong signal to the public,” says Rear Admiral Christian Bock, Head of the Bundeswehr Innovation Centre in Erding.

In addition to the Bundeswehr, federal ministries, NATO structures, international military forces, security authorities, science and industry will also be represented. The complete programme for the Bundeswehr Conference can be found here!

XPONENTIAL Europe 2026

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