EDW 2026 Symposium to Focus on Autonomy, Space and Industrial Readiness

The Estonian Defence Industry Association (EDIA) has announced the theme of the Estonian Defence Week 2026 Defence Industry Symposium: "Next in Defence: Autonomy, Space & Industrial Readiness".

Taking place on 21-22 September 2026 at Tallinn Creative Hub (Kultuurikatel), the symposium will bring together defence industry leaders, policymakers, military end-users, investors and technology experts from Estonia and allied countries to discuss how emerging technologies can be transformed into operational capabilities and scalable industrial solutions.

The 2026 programme will focus on three closely interconnected areas shaping the future of defence: autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, space-based capabilities, and the readiness of the defence industry to meet rapidly growing demand.

Russia’s war against Ukraine has demonstrated the growing importance of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, resilient communications and space-enabled services on the modern battlefield. At the same time, European countries are searching for ways to expand defence industrial capacity, strengthen supply chains and shorten the path from innovation to deployment. These developments form the strategic backdrop for the 2026 symposium.

“Europe is entering a new phase in defence. The question is how quickly can we turn emerging and disruptive technologies into defence capabilities at industrial scale,” said Kalev Koidumäe, CEO of the Estonian Defence & Aerospace Industry Association (EDIA). “Autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and space-based services will play a central role in future defence, but success depends on cooperation between governments, industry, investors and end-users. Estonian Defence Week is designed to bring together the people and organisations who will shape the next generation of defence.”

The symposium programme will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops covering trusted autonomy, AI-enabled defence solutions, space-based intelligence and communications, defence investments, industrial cooperation and procurement.

Ahead of the main conference day, a series of specialised workshops will take place on 21 September at the Energy Discovery Centre (Energia avastuskeskus). The workshops are organised in cooperation with AI & Robotics Estonia (AIRE), Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS)’s Space Office, Airbus and EDIA.

Confirmed speakers include European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, AI entrepreneur Peter Sarlin and Senior Security Adviser to the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) Pascal Legai. A key highlight of the programme will be the Nordic-Baltic 8 (NB8) Industry Ministers Panel, where ministers from across the region will discuss defence industrial cooperation.

The symposium is organised by EDIA in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and is supported by Milrem Robotics, Threod Systems, Saab and other partners and sponsors.

The symposium forms a core part of Estonian Defence Week 2026, which is expected to convene more than 4,000 participants from across Europe and allied nations. Last year, representatives from 36 countries participated. The week will include Defence Innovation Day, the NATO Open Innovation Conference & Expo (NOICE), the Annual Baltic Defence Conference (ABCD), Tallinn Defence Expo, a defence-focused hackathon and several specialised industry events.