Innovation in strategic autonomy

The security and defence sector is key to Europe’s strategic autonomy. In a global context marked by geopolitical uncertainty, cyber threats, technological transformation and climate change, the sector is evolving towards smarter, more resilient and sustainable models.

Challenges and Opportunities

The modernisation of defence and security capabilities poses significant challenges, but also opens up new opportunities for innovation, public-private collaboration and investment in strategic technologies:

• Digitisation and automation of systems: the incorporation of technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, autonomous systems or quantum computing allows for improved responsiveness, interoperability, and decision-making.
• Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection: defending against hybrid, climate or cyber threats is a priority to ensure national security and operational continuity.
• Sustainability and operational efficiency: the transition towards more sustainable energy models and the optimisation of resources are key to the resilience of the sector.