Where sovereign resilience meets startup velocity

DEFENSE & DUAL-USE


Connecting startups, corporates, and institutions to advance dual-use technologies that strengthen strategic resilience, protect critical infrastructure, and unlock new opportunities. 

WHY THIS TRACK MATTERS TO YOU

Security is no longer only a defence issue. It is becoming a core innovation challenge. From AI and cybersecurity to space, robotics and critical infrastructure, dual-use technologies are reshaping how societies, industries and institutions prepare for uncertainty, protect essential systems and build strategic autonomy. At South Summit Madrid 2026, this track brings together the ecosystem turning those challenges into opportunities for innovation, investment and impact, in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Defence.

BUILT FOR THE FULL ECOSYSTEM

Dual-use innovation only moves forward when builders, capital, industry and public stakeholders work together. This track is designed to create those connections — from first conversations to real adoption pathways.


 INSTITUTIONS & PUBLIC SECTOR

Connect policy, procurement and innovation.
Engage directly with the entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem to explore how dual-use technologies can be adopted, scaled and integrated responsibly.
STARTUPS & FOUNDERS

Turn advanced technology into strategic opportunity.
Position your solutions in front of the actors looking for innovation in resilience, infrastructure, autonomy, cybersecurity, AI, space, and other dual-use applications.


INVESTORS

Spot the next wave of mission-critical ventures.
Access a growing pipeline of startups building technologies with strategic relevance, scalable markets, and increasing demand from public and private sectors.


 CORPORATES

Find partners for tomorrow’s critical challenges.
Discover agile innovators developing technologies that can enhance operational resilience, infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and future-ready capabilities.

Defense & Dual Use comes to life

Defense & Dual Use comes to life across South Summit Madrid through content, curated connections and high-level spaces designed to move the conversation from awareness to action.

FORUM

Go deeper with the key players shaping the sector.

A dedicated Defense & Dual-Use Forum will bring together founders, technologists, investors, corporates and public stakeholders to explore the frameworks, technologies and partnerships shaping the next chapter of European strategic autonomy.

DISCOVER THE FORUM

PROGRAM

Explore the technologies redefining resilience and strategic autonomy.

Open sessions will bring the track to the South Summit stages, with conversations around AI, cybersecurity, space, robotics, critical infrastructure and the market shifts shaping dual-use innovation.

VIEW PROGRAM

MEETUPS

Connect with the ecosystem building what comes next.

Curated meetups will create focused opportunities for startups, investors, corporates and institutions to meet, exchange priorities and identify new paths for collaboration around dual-use technologies.


BE PART OF WHAT COMES NEXT

Join the global conversation defining the future of dual-use innovation.