Building on the Momentum of NOICE 2026

The 2025 edition in Copenhagen convened nearly 300 participants from Allied and partner nations, including Ukraine. It concentrated on pressing security challenges in the Baltic and Arctic regions and demonstrated NATO’s ability to connect military practitioners, industry, academia and Ukrainian partners in a collaborative innovation ecosystem.

Technologies presented ranged from AI-enabled decision-support tools and autonomous surveillance systems to counter-drone solutions, uncrewed maritime platforms, underwater sensing technologies, advanced telecommunications, and medical innovations. A key highlight was ACT’s rapid adoption initiative, Task Force X, showcasing how autonomous systems and artificial intelligence can be swiftly integrated into maritime security operations. Workshops and interactive sessions reinforced practical skill development, while immersive elements, including a virtual reality experience reflecting the realities of war, underscored the operational and human dimensions of innovation.

NOICE 2026 will build on these foundations, shifting further towards hands-on engagement and measurable impact.

What NOICE 2026 Will Deliver

As an integrated element of Estonian Defence Week, NOICE 2026 will provide a focused venue for NATO Enterprise Bodies, Nations and industry to present innovative projects aligned with ACT’s priorities.

Participants can expect:

• Direct insight into ACT’s current innovation priorities, experimentation efforts and flagship initiatives
• Clear pathways for collaboration within the NATO Innovation Network
• Exposure to scalable, operationally relevant solutions
• Structured opportunities to connect military end users with both traditional and non-traditional suppliers
• Practical methodologies for accelerating innovation adoption cycles
• Science and technology (S&T)workshops focused on specific emerging and disruptive technologies, such as quantum, Robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) and AI; These workshops will delve into what role S&T play in determining the military use of Emerging Disruptive Technologies for military operations. 

The event will emphasise operational relevance and interoperability, ensuring that innovation efforts translate into tangible capability gains for the Alliance.

A Practitioner-Centred Structure

NOICE is distinctive in its working-level focus. The 2026 edition will be structured to maximise applied learning and cross-sector interaction:

1. Priority-Focused Conference Sessions
Targeted briefings and discussions will outline ACT’s strategic direction, highlight ongoing projects, and demonstrate how rapid experimentation is shortening the path from concept to deployment.

2. Curated Expo Environment
The exhibition space will showcase innovative projects directly linked to NATO capability needs, enabling practical dialogue between developers and operational stakeholders.

3. Hands-On Workshops
Interactive sessions will allow participants to refine skills essential to military innovation — including experimentation design, agile development approaches, cross-sector collaboration models and implementation planning.

4. NATO Innovation Network Engagement
NOICE 2026 will further strengthen connections across the Alliance’s growing network of innovation entities, reinforcing shared standards, interoperability and collective learning.