📅 Date
17-18 September 2026
Duration: 2 days
📍 Venue
World Forum, The Hague
🎯 Focus
Strategic Defence Cooperation
Industrial Partnerships
🌍 Participants
1000+ Industry representatives
Investors
EU Defence Leaders
Forum Objectives
Current challenges and barriers in defence innovation
Real-world lessons from the battlefield and operational experience
Industrial collaboration and partnership building across countries
Investment and funding opportunities for startups and SMEs
Regulatory frameworks, standards, and policy updates
Networking and matchmaking sessions for practical cooperation
Advancing Europe’s Defence — Grounded in Real Experience
The European Defence Innovation Forum (EDIF) is Europe’s leading platform where combat-tested innovation meets capital and policy. The second edition, to be held in The Hague, will bring together key voices in defence innovation from the Netherlands, Ukraine, and other partner nations.
The industry will have a unique opportunity to showcase its developments, technological solutions, and ideas at the two-day EDIF 2026 exhibition.
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND
Explore partnership and collaboration opportunities
Share experiences and best practices from multiple countries
Engage in high-level discussions advancing Europe’s defence and innovation policy
Learn from both large corporations and innovative startups
Connect with over 1000+ participants, including last year’s international delegates
Practical solutions during parallel sessions, such as:
Day 1
Session 1
Strategic session with MoD EU
Session 2
Cyber & AI on the Battle field: The New Domain of Modern Warfare
Session 3
Robotics on the Frontline: Unmanned Ground Systems in Modern Warfare
Session 4
Space as the New Strategic Domain: Defence, ISR and Connectivity
Day 2
Session 1
The Future of the Sky: UAV Production, Testing and Deployment
Session 2
Critical Capabilities: Scaling Ammunition and Advancing Air Defence
Session 3
Defence Without Borders: Strengthening Europe with Ukrainian Experience
Session 4
Breaking Barriers: Women in Defence, Technology and Military Service
Enhancing defence collaboration
The Ministers of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ukraine, and other partner nations, together with representatives of business and industrial associations, will discuss strategic ways to strengthen the defence capabilities of NATO countries to ensure a peaceful future for Europe.
Speakers
Our partners
Supported by
Media partners
Partner with EDIF 2026
Where Combat-Tested Innovation Meets Capital and Policy
The European Defence Innovation Forum (EDIF) 2026 is not a conventional conference. It is a working platform designed to convert operational experience, technological ingenuity, industrial capability and investment capital into scalable defence solutions for Europe.
By becoming an EDIF sponsor, your organisation positions itself at the centre of Europe’s evolving defence ecosystem — where Ministries of Defence, NATO members and partner nations, industry leaders, defence-tech startups, system integrators, investors and strategic institutions meet to build real cooperation.
Why Sponsor EDIF?
Strategic Visibility in a High-Trust Environment
EDIF brings together decision-makers who shape defence capability, procurement priorities and innovation frameworks. Sponsorship ensures your organisation is visible not just broadly — but meaningfully — within a curated, mission-driven audience.
Alignment with Operational Credibility
EDIF is grounded in real-world experience, including battlefield-tested innovation and practical lessons from operational environments. Sponsoring EDIF demonstrates your commitment to solutions that work in reality — not just in theory.
Direct Access to Decision-Makers and Capital
From Ministries of Defence and institutional actors to venture capital and development funds, EDIF integrates policy, industry and finance into one coherent platform. Sponsors gain structured opportunities to engage across the full value chain — from concept to deployment and scaling.
Engagement Beyond the Stage
EDIF is designed around practical collaboration, strategic matchmaking and focused networking sessions. Sponsorship provides privileged access to curated meetings, thematic sessions and high-level roundtables that foster concrete partnerships.
Positioning as a Builder of Europe’s Defence Resilience
By supporting EDIF, your organisation signals leadership in strengthening European security, industrial cooperation and innovation capacity. You become part of a platform that contributes to Europe’s long-term defence transformation.
Build the Future — Together
EDIF 2026 (17–18 September 2026, World Forum, The Hague) is built on one principle: defence innovation must move from discussion to capability.
Join us as a sponsor and contribute to shaping a stronger, more resilient European defence ecosystem — grounded in real experience and built through partnership.
Contacts
Getting to World Forum The Hague
By Public Transport
From The Hague Central Station: take bus 28 (direction Zuiderstrand) → World Forum (West).
From Hollands Spoor: take tram 1 (direction Scheveningen Noord) → World Forum.
The World Forum stop is about 400 m from the venue.
By Car
Underground parking available at Churchillplein 10, directly under the venue.
Max height 2.00 m, rate €4/hour (max €29.50/day).
EV charging and accessible spaces available.
📍 Full directions and details: worldforum.nl/en/accessibility