That was the economic factor of armaments in 2026.
Over 450 participants gathered at the Maritim Hotel in Düsseldorf, in conjunction with the Handelsblatt Conference on Defense & Real Estate. With presentations, panel discussions, six deep-dive sessions, and around 50 high-caliber speakers, the conference offered exchange at the highest level. Numerous industries, perspectives, and key players in the defense ecosystem came together for in-depth discussions, valuable contacts, and genuine networking.
More than just an industry event: Your reasons for participating
- First-hand strategic guidance
C-level insights on the main stage: a clear assessment of what matters now. - From overview to implementation
Deep dive sessions in small groups: practical, concrete, directly applicable - Systematic networking
Event app with participant overview & 1:1 contact: Plan conversations instead of meeting by chance. - Meet decision-makers who actually make decisions.
Last year: >80 % Management level: high density, high relevance, short distances. - Industry focus & strong mix
Diverse field of participants, >40 % from industry: all partners in one place. - More contacts through co-location
Co-location with „Defense and Real Estate“ + shared breaks: additional touchpoints and new opportunities.
Germany is investing in its security and defense capabilities. For these investments to be effective, strong and resilient supply chains are essential. Ports, waterways, and multimodal logistics hubs form the backbone of these supply chains. Therefore, anyone discussing security must also discuss the future of our infrastructure.
Defense readiness is not a matter for individual large corporations. It arises where medium-sized businesses, neo-primes, dual-use companies, and procurement departments come together. Transparency and networking thus become the strategic raw material of the European security industry – and the SVI-Connect platform delivers precisely that!
As DEUTZ, we take our responsibility for security and future viability in Europe seriously, while securing added value and high-quality jobs in Germany.
Many companies have so far been reluctant to accept their employees as reservists. This is now backfiring!
Resilient supply chains open up opportunities for new suppliers to enter the market.
Innovation needs to be closer to the troops, closer to real problems, closer to technological development, and closer to the decision-making process.
There is no silver bullet. Security arises when systems are networked – and when we deliver.
The next 35 billion euros will determine not only capabilities in space, but also the structure of the German space industry in ten years' time. Procurement that focuses on competition rather than monocultures creates the speed of innovation and the resilience that true sovereignty requires.
The decision is made on the ground. An old military adage that I am convinced still holds true in the age of unmanned and autonomous systems.
Space is no longer a romantic object of wanderlust, but rather a realm of action – with enormous opportunities that we intend to seize. With our aerospace expertise, we're not just reaching for the stars figuratively, but working concretely to achieve progress on the path to space through excellent research and our high-tech economy. Because this path leads through North Rhine-Westphalia.
To generate relevant growth effects for our economy from the enormous, debt-financed sums we will spend on our defense and security in the coming years, and thus further strengthen our resilience, we must place a clear emphasis on innovative and European projects. This requires overcoming obstacles in procurement and empowering new market participants.
Top-level and diverse industries combined
- Over 80 of the participants belong to the management level – take advantage of the exchange at the highest level.
- A broadly diversified industry structure ensures cross-industry exchange.
- With over 40 %, industry is the dominant participant group.
The Handelsblatt Defense Circle offers business decision-makers access to all relevant Handelsblatt content from the security and defense industry sectors, as well as assessments of geopolitical developments – all bundled in one place.
Whether exclusive articles, white papers or webinars: By registering for the Handelsblatt Defense Circle you will receive regular updates and exclusive invitations via email – free of charge and without obligation.
Multidimensional crises – multidimensional responses
Investments were made, capacities were expanded, reforms and innovations were implemented, and society was involved.
And yet, ever new crises and their interconnections demand ever new answers regarding the security and defense policy future of Germany and Europe.
Do YOU have these answers and perspectives that are in tune with the times?
… is how the Lithuanian Ministers of Economy and Innovation and of Defense begin their journal article. And while the ministers use the word "together" to outline the close cooperation between Lithuania and Germany, not only militarily but also in industrial policy, they immediately anticipate the common theme of all 13 named articles in the current journal.
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