Defence: mark your calendars!

The success of the second edition of the Luxembourg Defence Technology and Innovation Day, co-organised by Luxinnovation and the Luxembourg Defence Directorate last December (400 participants and around 50 exhibitors), illustrates the growing importance of defence within the national technological ecosystem.

When the first edition of the “Luxembourg Industry and Research Capabilities for Security & Defence” catalogue was published in 2022, it featured around 40 companies and organisations. The most recent edition, presented in June 2025 at the International Paris Air Show, included more than 100.

This momentum will continue into 2026, with a number of events already marked in diaries.

Here is an overview of the main ones:

23 February – Infoday European Defence Fund (Luxembourg)

An information day featuring the latest European Defence Fund calls focusing on key priorities aligned with European strategic needs: cybersecurity, space, energy resilience, land technologies, military health and interoperability.

Info and registration to come on January

26 February – Govsatcom Conference 2026 (Luxembourg)

A major event that brings together more than 1,000 participants in the fields of government satellite communications, space and defence. The conference is dedicated to discussions and topics on defence and security, addressed by international and renowned speakers.

Info and registration: https://www.govsatcom.lu/govsatcom/2026/

26 February – Defence Industry Conference (Brussels, Belgium)

Organised by the European Defence Agency, the defence industry conference will provide a forum for discussion on how the European defence industrial base can respond to an increasingly complex security environment. It will bring together representatives from industry, EU Member States and European institutions.

Info and registration: https://eda.europa.eu/news-and-events/events/2026/02/26/default-calendar/defence-industry-conference

02 March – BENELUX Space4Defence (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

On the eve of the 2026 edition of the Amsterdam Space Symposium, Luxinnovation (with the support of the Luxembourg Directorate of Defence), the Belgian Association for Security and the Defence Industry (AGORIA-BSDI) and the Dutch Association of the Defence and Security Industry (NIDV) are organising this event around the following themes:

• Earth Observation
• Space situational awareness
• Positioning, navigation, and synchronisation
• Communications satellites
• Launchers
• Cyber

The invitation for the Space4Defence event and registration information will follow later in January.

10 March – EDF Info Day (Brussels, Belgium, and online)

This information day will provide as much information as possible on the application processes for the 2026 calls for proposals of the European Defence Fund and establish contacts with potential partners for future projects of the Fund.

Info and registration: https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/edf-info-days-2026-2026-03-10_en 

12-14 March – Bedex, Brussels European Defense Exhibition & conference (Brussels, Belgium)

At the heart of the European institutions and NATO, Bedex is the trade fair for defence and security professionals (industries, institutions, armed forces, public authorities, research). 12-13 March will be exclusively reserved for professionals.

Info and registration: https://www.bedex.brussels/fr/

13-16 April – Space Symposium (Colorado Springs, United States)

Space Symposium is a flagship event that brings together hundreds of global space professional exhibitors from all sectors and welcomes thousands of visitors. 

A Luxembourg national pavilion is being set up. 

Info and interest: https://www.cc.lu/agenda/detail/space-symposium-2026-national-pavilion 

15-19 June – Eurosatory (Paris Nord Villepinte, France)

The Eurosatory world defence and security exhibition brings together more than 2,000 exhibitors from some sixty countries. Luxembourg will also be represented by a national pavilion. There is still time to apply (limited number of places) 

Info and registration: https://www.cc.lu/agenda/detail/eurosatory-2026-national-pavilion

October – Opex2026 Campaign (Portugal)

Portugal will host the European Defence Agency's (EDA) flagship OPEX operational experimentation campaign in 2026. The campaign will focus on several technology areas, including autonomous systems, logistical support and honing munitions. 

At the Santa Margarida military training area, all emerging technologies will be able to be tested under realistic conditions.

Info and interest: https://eda.europa.eu/news-and-events/news/2026/01/08/portugal-to-host-eda-s-2026-operational-experimentation-campaign-opex

Autumn – Joint call defence 2026

The fourth joint call for research and development (R&D) projects to foster innovation and skills in defence technologies will be launched this autumn. An initiative resulting from cooperation at the national level between the Directorate of Defence, the Ministry of the Economy, the Ministry of Research and Higher Education, in collaboration with the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) and Luxinnovation.

November – Luxembourg Defence Technology and Innovation Day 2026 (Luxembourg)

The third edition of the Luxembourg Defence Technology and Innovation Day will once again bring together leaders from government, the EU, research institutions and industry to explore strategies and initiatives that strengthen European security and defence.

Since 2020, Luxinnovation and the Luxembourg Directorate of Defence have been working together to facilitate the development by Luxembourg industry and research centres of innovative solutions to meet the needs of Luxembourg's defence within NATO and the European Union.

As part of a multi-year agreement, the national innovation agency is working to develop, lead and support a technological and industrial security and defence community in Luxembourg's priority sectors. 

Luxinnovation also has the mission of facilitating the integration of this Luxembourg defence technological and industrial base into the European and NATO defence value chain.