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)