What to expect:

• Discover cutting-edge defence technologies from the 2026 NATO DIANA innovators.

• Connect with top industry leaders, investors, and defence officials.

• Explore cross-border collaboration between Belgium, the Netherlands, and NATO allies.

• Hear from high-level speakers shaping the future of defence innovation.

• Meet the next generation of dual-use startups – ready to scale and deploy.

For whom

This event brings together innovators, defence industry, investors and government from both Belgium and the Netherlands to explore cross-border collaboration and accelerate technological adoption in defence.

Programmw

• 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM: Welcome, registration and coffee

• 09:30 AM - 12:00 PM: morning programme

  - Welcome & Introductions: Word of welcome by Koen Janssen, President of the Executive Board, University of Technology Eindhoven

  - Keynote: Lieutenant General M.L.E. (Ludy) Schmidt - Vice Chief of Defence

  - Pitch Session #1

  Break

  - Keynote - to be announced

  - Pitch Session #2

• 12:00 PM - 14:00 PM: Lunch programme (parallel)

  - Lunch

  - Organised networking

  - Breakout sessions

• 14:00 PM - 16:30 PM: Afternoon programme

  - Panel discussion: Rapid adoption in a disruptive world

  - Pitch session #3

  Break

  - Keynote Jeroen van der Vlugt - Chief Information Officer (CIO) Netherlands Ministry of Defence

  - Pitch session #4

  - Closing remarks

• 16:30 PM - 18:00 PM: Organised networking & Drinks

When and where

• Date: 20 May 2026

• Time: 09:00 - 18:00 PM

• Location: Eindhoven

More information and registration

For more information and to receive an invitation (register), we would like to refer you to the Defence Tech Day 2026 webpage: