Bulgaria
Bulgaria Leads CEE in Venture Capital Investment for Defense and Security in 2025
Bulgaria attracted the highest volume of venture capital investment in defense and security startups among Central and Eastern European countries in 2025.
Defence Startups
European Defence, Security and Resilience Startups Hit Record $8.7B VC Funding in 2025
Venture capital investment in European defence, security and resilience startups surged to an unprecedented $8.7 billion in 2025, driven by large late-stage rounds and increasing investor interest in deep tech for security applications.
WDS 2026
Saudi-Focused Defense VC MASNA Ventures Targets $100M First Fund
MASNA Ventures, a newly established defense-focused venture capital firm, is seeking to raise $100 million for its inaugural fund centered on defense and security technologies. The vehicle aims to back U.S. and allied companies while supporting industrial expansion into Saudi Arabia.
Belgium
Europe Picks Seven Tech Scale-Up Finalists for DIGITALEUROPE’s 2026 Future Unicorn Awards
DIGITALEUROPE, the continent’s largest digital industry association, has named seven finalist companies for the 2026 Future Unicorn Awards across Future Unicorn and Dual-Use Technology categories. The winners will be revealed at the Masters of Digital 2026 conference in Brussels on 25-26 February.
Germany
DTCP Launches €500M Project Liberty Fund to Scale European Defence Tech
Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners has initiated a €500 million investment fund to accelerate European defence, security, and dual-use technology companies. Project Liberty targets growth-stage firms with NATO-aligned relevance, addressing capability and resilience gaps across Europe.
South Africa
Father-and-Son Team Sets World Record With 3D-Printed High-Speed Drone, Highlighting Defense-Relevant UAV Technologies
A South African father-and-son engineering team has reclaimed the Guinness World Record for the world’s fastest drone using a largely 3D-printed quadcopter design. The platform reached a verified speed of 657 km/h in December 2025.
Latvia
SEB backs Latvian defense startup Natrix with €250,000 working capital loan
SEB Bank has provided €250,000 in working capital financing to Latvian defence startup Natrix, supporting production and contract execution of its modular unmanned ground vehicle designed for military logistics and evacuation missions.
Ukraine
Ukraine: A Global Drone Powerhouse with Over 500 Drone Companies
Ukraine’s drone industry has exploded since 2022, with over 500 companies now producing drones across the country, making it one of the most active UAV manufacturing hubs in the world.
Germany
Germany Unveils €130 Billion Investment Push to Revive Innovation and Defense
Germany has unveiled a €130 billion public-private investment initiative aimed at accelerating innovation, modernising industry and strengthening defence capabilities, as Berlin moves to reverse years of underinvestment and boost economic competitiveness.
United Kingdom
UK Accelerator Selects Eight Firms for NATO DIANA 2026
The UK-based Janus Allies accelerator has selected eight companies for the 2026 NATO DIANA programme, following a highly competitive call focused on contested electromagnetic environments and dual-use defence technologies.
South Korea
HD Hyundai and Anduril Join Forces to Build Next-Gen Autonomous Naval Vessels
HD Hyundai and Anduril have sealed an agreement to jointly develop next-generation autonomous naval vessels, uniting South Korean shipbuilding capability with U.S. AI-driven defense technology — with prototypes expected by 2026.
Romania
Oves Enterprise Unveils Development of Romania’s First Autonomous Cruise Missile, Powered by Nemesis AI
Oves Enterprise has announced the development of SAHARA, its first autonomous cruise missile engineered around the Nemesis AI platform and built almost entirely in-house in Romania. The system offers real-time adaptive flight, on-premise AI loading, and advanced sensor fusion.