From Prototype to Arsenal

Europe is entering a new phase of defense innovation: the challenge is no longer building drones — it is producing them at scale.

Current conflicts have demonstrated that strategic advantage depends on the ability to deploy millions of drones, not thousands. Yet today, most production remains stuck in pre-series stages, constrained by fragmented supply chains and limited industrial capacity.

This event brings together leaders from automotive, defense, manufacturing, and venture to answer one core question:

How can Europe industrialize drone production using automotive principles?

The automotive industry offers a proven blueprint for high-volume, cost-efficient manufacturing, while Europe urgently needs sovereign, localized supply chains to reduce external dependencies. At the same time, the dual-use nature of drone components unlocks significant opportunities to drive down costs through shared civil and defense demand.

We focus on practical pathways to scale: platform strategies, modular design, supply chain localization, and leveraging existing industrial capabilities. We will explore key components, including motors, batteries, electronics, materials, and optics, as well as concrete business models and market entry points for automotive suppliers and new players.

The event is designed for executives, engineers, supply chain experts, investors, and policymakers shaping Europe’s industrial base.Agenda (10:00 – 17:00)

10:00 – 10:30 | Arrival & Coffee

Informal networking and participant onboarding

10:30 – 11:00 | Opening Keynote

The Industrial Gap in European Drone Production

Current state: from battlefield demand to industrial reality

Why scaling is the defining challenge of this decade

11:00 – 12:00 | Session 1 — From Prototype to Millions Scaling Drone Production

Lessons from Ukraine and real-world deployment

Transition from R&D to industrial manufacturing

Bottlenecks: components, suppliers, assembly

12:00 – 13:00 | Session 2 — Automotive Meets Defense

Applying Automotive Principles

Platform strategy & modular architectures

Common parts and cost reduction

Quality, testing, and production standards

13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch & Networking

14:00 – 15:00 | Session 3 — Components & Supply Chain Building the Industrial Stack

Batteries, motors, electronics, opticsRare-earth-free systems and EU sourcingLocalizing supply chains for resilience

15:00 – 16:00 | Panel Discussion “From Hype to Industrial Reality”

Can Europe build drone production at scale?Role of automotive suppliersRegulatory, financing, and export challenges

16:00 – 16:30 | Closing & Call to Action: What Needs to Happen Next

Concrete next steps for industry collaborationBuilding partnerships across sectors

17:00 | End (Optional Informal Networking)