Dual-Use events

As the premier security marketplace in the Asia-Pacific region, this event is the primary venue for global security suppliers to launch products into the Australian market and engage directly with integrators, consultants, government buyers, and critical-infrastructure end users. The co-location with Integrate and Fire Security Expo expands the addressable buyer pool to ~14,500 professionals across converging physical, cyber, fire, and AV sectors. For SMEs and startups, it is the most cost-efficient route to the Australian security procurement community, with free visitor registration and a sold-out floor plan signalling strong buyer intent.

Xi'an hosts China's densest concentration of state-owned defense primes and research institutes, making this expo one of the few accessible venues in western China where suppliers can engage directly with aerospace, ordnance, and defense-electronics procurement chains. For SMEs and dual-use technology firms, the military-civil integration forums and project roadshow sessions provide structured pathways into PLA and state-enterprise supply chains. The event's scale — targeting 50,000+ professional visitors and 1,500+ exhibitors — and its government guidance from provincial defense-industry authorities signal genuine procurement and partnership intent rather than a purely promotional showcase.

As the flagship procurement and technology showcase of EMERCOM of Russia, the salon is the primary venue where Russian federal and regional authorities, state enterprises, and international emergency services evaluate and procure fire-rescue equipment, critical-infrastructure protection systems, and dual-use safety technologies. The 2026 edition's new regional rotation format and co-organisation with the Republic of Tatarstan opens access to Volga Federal District procurement networks and regional government buyers. For SMEs and startups in fire-tech, UAS, robotics, and CBRN protection, it is the most direct route to state customers and to international delegations from CIS, BRICS+, and partner countries.

This is one of the few recurring Chinese domestic venues where civilian technology companies can engage directly with PLA procurement and logistics officers, making it a rare structured channel into Chinese military supply chains. For dual-use SMEs and tech firms in AI, IoT, unmanned systems, and cybersecurity, the event offers direct demand-signal access that is otherwise difficult to obtain. Western and allied defence analysts should monitor exhibitor and delegation lists as an indicator of PLA civil-military fusion procurement priorities.

Podkarpackie is one of Central Europe's most established aerospace manufacturing bases, and this summit is the region's strategic move to pivot from aviation to drone/dual-use technology — directly relevant to defence suppliers and SMEs seeking to enter or expand in the UAS and dual-use market. The co-located Dual Use Challenge pitch finals offer startups direct access to VC funds, investors, and industrial primes on a single day. For defence-adjacent firms, the live airfield showcase at Stalowa Wola–Turbia — including counter-drone systems — provides rare hands-on demonstration access in a NATO-ally operational context.

The best single venue for reading CEE and eastern-flank security priorities and meeting regional decision-makers. Strong fit for firms positioning around the NATO eastern flank.

For SMEs and startups, the Innovation Challenge is one of the few structured, low-barrier routes to direct engagement with NATO operational stakeholders and decision-makers, offering prize funding (up to €250,000 in recent editions) and a credible proof-of-concept platform that can accelerate adoption pathways. Winning teams gain visibility at NATO-wide events, direct collaboration with Allied Command Transformation, and the prospect of rapid-prototyping contracts — making it a high-leverage market-entry mechanism for dual-use technology firms. The twice-yearly cadence and rotating national hosts mean there are multiple entry points per year across different technology domains.

As the successor to the long-running Koblenzer IT-Tagung, the Bonner IT-Dialog is a focused access point to Bundeswehr requirement-owners (particularly the ZDigBw) and other public-sector decision-makers shaping Germany's defence-IT and resilience programmes. For SMEs and defence-tech startups, its showcase exhibition and networking with primes, agencies and research institutions offer visibility on where future procurement and capability priorities are heading. Its tight, high-level format makes it well suited to relationship-building rather than mass lead generation.

As Poland's first trade fair focused exclusively on drones and counter-UAS systems, DSE gives suppliers, SMEs and startups direct access to Polish uniformed services, military, critical-infrastructure managers and energy/telecom operators at a time of heightened regional demand for C-UAS capability. The event's live demonstration zones and decision-maker networking offer a practical route to test products and reach procurement-relevant buyers. Its debut status makes it a lower-cost early-mover opportunity in a fast-growing Central European security market.

Western Australia is the hub of Australia's naval shipbuilding and sustainment ambitions, including the Henderson Consolidation precinct and AUKUS-related infrastructure, making this summit a critical forum for suppliers seeking early visibility into upcoming contracts and policy direction. For SMEs and startups, it offers direct access to senior Department of Defence officials, prime contractors, and state government decision-makers in a focused single-day format. Scheduling immediately after Land Forces 2026 (6–8 October, Perth) creates a high-value week for defence industry participants already in the city.

The fastest way for engineers and early founders to plug into the European defence-tech builder scene, meet operators and get noticed by funds active in the space.

Best Defence is the most accessible entry point into Ontario's defence-industrial ecosystem — Canada's largest — offering direct, affordable face-time with CAF procurement officers, federal/provincial decision-makers, and prime contractors at a fraction of the cost of CANSEC or major trade shows. For SMEs and startups, the Technology Showcase provides a curated on-stage pitch opportunity directly in front of CAF and government buyers. The ODA's official backing adds institutional credibility and a growing member network, making it a high-ROI event for companies seeking Canadian programmes of record or teaming partners.

The congress convenes senior Polish government, military and state-owned-enterprise decision-makers alongside technology suppliers, making it a venue for suppliers and SMEs to reach public-sector buyers and prime contractors. Sessions on technological sovereignty, public-private partnership, procurement (PZP) and defence funding map directly to commercial opportunities for domestic vendors. For startups and SMEs it offers direct visibility with ministries and critical-infrastructure operators who set requirements and budgets.

Canada's February 2026 Defence Industrial Strategy commits ~CAD $82 billion to defence over five years under a 'Build–Partner–Buy' framework, triggering a wave of new ITB obligations for every prime contractor winning eligible contracts over $100 million — making this the single most relevant annual gathering for companies navigating those commitments. For SMEs and startups, the conference is a direct pipeline to obligors actively seeking Canadian partners and flow-down recipients to satisfy ITB credits. Attendance provides unmatched access to the government officials and policy architects at ISED and the Defence Investment Agency who administer and are actively reforming the ITB Policy.

With over $8 trillion in institutional capital represented at past editions, this summit is one of the highest-density venues for space and defense investment decision-makers in the United States, giving growth-stage companies direct access to LPs, GPs, and senior government officials in a candid, off-the-record format. For SMEs and startups, acceptance to the summit signals industry legitimacy and opens direct lines to the investors who are actively deploying capital into dual-use and national-security technology. The application-only model and Chatham House atmosphere enable frank discussions on funding gaps and procurement that rarely surface at open trade shows.

Your entry point into the EU defence innovation funnel (EUDIS, EDF). Strong fit for startups and SMEs that want EU-level visibility and follow-on funding pathways.

EDIF is one of the few European forums explicitly designed to convert operational frontline experience — particularly from Ukraine — into co-production agreements, procurement pipelines, and industrial partnerships, making it a direct route to Dutch and broader EU MoD decision-makers. For SMEs and startups, the curated B2B matchmaking and presence of investors and venture capital funds creates concrete pathways to funding, certification support, and integration into European supply chains. The forum's backing by national ministries, NIDV, and RVO gives participating companies direct access to government procurement officers and defence attachés in a single venue.

Concentrated room of NATO end users and dual-use investors. For investors it is curated deal flow; for founders it is a warm introduction to alliance customers.

For SMEs, startups and Tier 2/3 suppliers, Aeromart offers structured access to qualified buyers from primes such as Airbus, Safran, Thales and their defence arms, making it a direct route to subcontracting opportunities. Its vetted-buyer format and high meeting volume give exhibitors measurable pipeline value rather than passive foot traffic. As Europe's leading aerospace supply-chain convention, it is a key procurement and partnering venue anchored in the Toulouse ecosystem.

Bridges EU grant funding with private capital. For investors it surfaces EU-vetted deal flow; for founders it de-risks the next private round.

The event serves as an entry point for dual-use technology suppliers, sensor manufacturers, and unmanned systems developers seeking commercial and public-sector security contracts in East China. It highlights the integration of AI, autonomous platforms, and counter-UAS capabilities into municipal and critical infrastructure protection.

SecD-Day has rapidly become the largest defence and security exhibition ever held in Finland and a key Nordic meeting point, offering direct access to Finnish and international primes, authorities and foreign delegations following Finland's NATO accession. For SMEs and startups it provides a comparatively affordable route to reach national armaments buyers, strategic partners like Patria and Millog, and international primes in a growing Northern European defence market.

Less a sales event, more a strategic signal-reading event. Tracks where transatlantic and EU security priorities (and therefore future budgets) are heading. Invite-only, but the surrounding fringe is open networking.

Poland is a frontline NATO state rapidly scaling its drone procurement and C-UAS capabilities, making Warsaw an increasingly strategic market for UAS suppliers targeting defence and dual-use contracts in Central and Eastern Europe. Co-location with the broader Warsaw Security & Defence Expo block gives exhibitors direct access to uniformed services, government procurement representatives, and defence-adjacent buyers in a single venue. For SMEs and startups, the event's relatively low entry costs and regional profile offer a cost-efficient route to the Polish and wider CEE market before competing at larger global shows.