February 24, 2024 - From autonomous systems to artificial intelligence, emerging technologies will have an outsized role in future conflicts. Their proliferation will be dependent on a robust industrial base and resilient supply chains to sustain them, but crippling events like the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed the shortcomings and vulnerabilities in defense production and global supply sources. To meet these challenges, the U.S. and its allies require a strong and expansive defense industry capable of producing advanced military technology rapidly and at scale.
Under the 2025 Munich Security Conference framework, the Defense Innovation Unit and MSC organizers, supported by the Boston Consulting Group and Resilience Media, hosted a dialogue on the “Future of Defence Tech Manufacturing & Innovation.” The event convened defense technology thought leaders from military, industry, investment, and commercial technology sectors. The programming spanned eight panels on topics ranging from the economics of manufacturing and production capacity to the growing role of startups in meeting growing demand. DIU’s own team led many of the conversations.
Colonel Glenn McCartan, DIU’s embed to U.S. European Command, stressed the significant relationship between manufacturing and innovation.
“A great idea without a means to produce it is like a great song that can never be sung,” he said. “Europe has no shortage of great ideas, but its industrial base lacks the capacity to help promising emerging technologies reach a critical mass for use. Today’s dialogue was meant to raise the value and profile of defense manufacturing amongst stakeholders to spur action and collaboration.”
During “The Role of Manufacturing in the Future of Defence” panel, DIU’s Deputy Director of Commercial Operations Liz Young McNally led a distinguished group including John Ridge of the NATO Innovation Fund, Sille Pettai of the Estonian state VC company SmartCap, and Natalia Kushnerska of the Government of Ukraine’s Brave1. They discussed how building resilient supply chains and manufacturing capacity across Europe and NATO are the means to scaling capability and improving deterrence. The panel also touched on the intersection of private and public sector investment, policy, and innovation.
Participants included over 30 panelists and nearly 200 guests from across the globe, made up of investors, founders, industry and government officials. Multiple announcements were made during the event including new partnerships where companies and countries will be working closely together to develop standardised software-based components for unmanned drone systems and new factory in Europe where thousands of new autonomous strike drones will be manufactured to be delivered to Ukraine.
This event is part of DIU’s ongoing commitment to supporting the global defense innovation community. In addition to its U.S. headquarters, DIU maintains embedded staff across the globe, allowing for front-line engagement with military personnel and commercial companies. Since FY2016, DIU has awarded 27 prototype contracts to companies in 11 partner countries which allows for us to build a stronger base.
If you weren’t able to participate in this year’s event, you watch a recap here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOz7rkbWkOhwg2dc_B0x2GN8QSRFX2xag