The 4th edition of FEINDEF, taking place from May 12 to 14 at Ifema Madrid, will be more international, more innovative, and more strategic than ever.
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Press Release, Madrid, 09 May 2025: [auto-translated] The Spanish International Defence and Security Fair (FEINDEF) is gearing up. Just three days before its opening, Madrid is preparing to host the largest edition to date of this strategic event, which will take place from May 12 to 14 in Halls 4, 6, 8, and 10 at Ifema Madrid. With an exhibition area expanded to 66,690 m²—67% more than in 2023—and 601 confirmed exhibitors, 35,000 professionals and 93 international delegations are expected to attend.
FEINDEF 25 attendees will be able to discover everything from land, naval, and aerospace defence systems to cybersecurity technologies, artificial intelligence, drones, advanced simulation, and dual capabilities applied to the civil and military sectors. In addition, current geostrategic challenges, European technological autonomy, and sustainability in the sector will be addressed and discussed over the three days.
In response to growing demand, FEINDEF 25 has expanded its exhibition space with the addition of a new pavilion dedicated exclusively to static displays, showcasing advanced military technology systems, cutting-edge equipment, and innovations in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and logistics. In addition, attendees will be able to learn firsthand about land, naval, and air platforms, command and control systems, as well as advances in sustainability and technological duality applied to the field of defence and security.
A global fair with strategic impact: FEINDEF 25 is taking place within a rapidly changing geopolitical context, marked by the effects of the war of aggression against Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, instability in the Sahel, and the rise of hybrid threats. Added to this is the shift in the United States’ strategic focus, increasingly oriented toward the Indo-Pacific and the containment of China, which has led Europe to assume a more central role in its own security. In this context, the European Union has accelerated its commitment to strategic autonomy in defence matters, with an unprecedented reinforcement of budgets, the creation of new common capabilities, and the promotion of the European defence industry.
FEINDEF thus becomes a unique forum for addressing the priorities of the new investment cycle, international cooperation, technological innovation, and the strategic re-industrialisation of the continent. This event will bring together representatives from 57 countries, international organisations, civil and military authorities, ambassadors, defence attachés, and business leaders.
FEINDEF has had the institutional support of the Ministry of Defence since its first edition in 2019 and has consolidated the active participation of numerous national and international institutions. These include the European Commission through DG DEFIS and DG CONNECT; the Ministry of the Interior, through the National Police, Civil Guard, and the General Directorate of Civil Protection; the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, through ENISA; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business, through ICEX; and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, through CDTI.
The aforementioned organisations are also joined by the CNI, INTA, and other leading international organisations such as EDA, EUROPOL, NATO, OCCAR, and the UN. This broad institutional involvement reflects the cross-cutting nature of the fair and its key role as a meeting platform for the national and international defence and security ecosystem.
A top-level programme of activities: FEINDEF 25 is not just an exhibition fair. It is also a platform for reflection and knowledge generation, where institutional, military, business, and academic leaders will discuss the challenges and opportunities of this new cycle. In this sense, it will feature an ambitious programme of conferences, roundtables, and forums in which national and international experts will discuss the challenges in Europe and adjacent regions, covering alliances and international cooperation.
INNOVA Space, a benchmark for innovation and entrepreneurship: The INNOVA space at FEINDEF 25 is consolidating its position as a strategic meeting point for promoting innovation in the field of defence and security, fostering collaboration between public institutions, technology companies, universities, and start-ups. Organised by the Directorate General for Strategy and Innovation of the Defence Industry (DIGEID), through the Subdirectorate General for Planning, Technology, and Innovation (SDG PLATIN), and by ISDEFE (Spanish Defence Systems Engineering), this three-day event hosts initiatives aimed at promoting talent, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship, positioning itself as a catalyst for disruptive solutions that respond to the new challenges of the national and international security environment.
An institutional and business meeting point: With its combination of technological exhibition, strategic thinking, and international outreach, FEINDEF 25 is establishing itself as much more than a trade fair: it is the meeting point where the future of European defence is defined, key alliances are forged, and an industry that is a driver of innovation, security, and economic progress is promoted. For three days, Madrid will be the epicentre of debate and cooperation in a sector essential to the present and future of Europe.
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