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: