Startups are playing an increasingly important role in defence innovation, but two major challenges remain:
1. Classified vs unclassified collaboration – the defence sector operates within strict classified environments, while startups typically work in unclassified settings. How can startups still contribute to national security innovation?2. Access to investment and procurement – the European Investment Bank (EIB) and venture capital firms are allocating capital to defence tech, but deals are not materialising at the expected scale. Which barriers are preventing funding from flowing into startups, and how can they navigate procurement?

This panel will explore practical strategies for defence startups to bridge these gaps and scale successfully.