The second day of FEINDEF 25 focused on the transformation of the defence ecosystem through innovation, digitalisation, and strengthening.
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Press Release, Madrid, 13 May 2025: The second day of FEINDEF 25 focused on the transformation of the defence ecosystem through innovation, digitalisation, and the strengthening of strategic industrial capabilities. With a strong institutional and business presence, the programme brought together senior representatives from the Ministry of Defence, industry leaders, start-ups, and international delegations. The Global Sponsors: Navantia, AMPER, EM&E Group, and Airbus played a leading role. The event concluded with more than 17,000 visitors.
Digital Defence and Industrial Capabilities: The morning began with a high-level panel on digital strategy at the Ministry of Defence, with the participation of Lieutenant General José María Millán Martínez (CESTIC), who detailed the advances in digitalisation, cybersecurity, and technological governance. This institutional vision was reinforced by the industrial focus shared by EM&E, which outlined its commitment to applied innovation and the integration of advanced technologies in complex operational environments.
In parallel, other panels addressed the challenges of investment and the industrialisation of critical capabilities. In this context, AMPER hosted one of the day’s key sessions, focusing on industrial organisation and cooperation within the national defence ecosystem. Its CEO, Enrique López, shared the company’s vision of the importance of generating collaborative, resilient, and technologically advanced structures that guarantee Spain’s strategic autonomy and its projection in Europe.
Within this same framework, Navantia reinforced its role as one of the pillars of national technological innovation with the conference “Navantia: Spearhead of Innovation,” delivered by its president, Ricardo Domínguez. During his speech, Domínguez emphasised the strategic value of innovation as a driver of industrial sovereignty and as the backbone of major current and future defence programmes: “We have made the right decisions: investment decisions, R&D decisions, technological and industrial transformation decisions, and human capital decisions, all with the aim of being prepared to adequately respond to the challenges that lie ahead.”
Start-ups and major programmes share ground on the new industrial map: The second day also reinforced the role of start-ups and new entrepreneurial models in defence. In addition, panels focused on investment and international industrial cooperation were held, with the participation of leading companies. They emphasised Spain’s value as a key player in promoting a solid, inclusive, and technologically advanced European strategic autonomy.
Cybersecurity and Borders – Defence Also Plays a Digital Role: Hall 8 hosted an intense programme focused on cyber defence, with presentations and expert panels from the Joint Cyber Command, Thales, TRC, Accenture, Telefónica, and several European organisations. Sessions ranged from the protection of the digital domain to new models of deterrence in hybrid warfare contexts.
The Civil Guard panel also took place, focusing on comprehensive border management and operational cooperation with European agencies, with representatives from the European Commission and the Italian Guardia di Finanza. The comprehensive approach of these activities reinforced the geostrategic and technological dimension of the event.
Throughout the day, FEINDEF 25 continued to welcome thousands of industry professionals, consolidating its role as a major meeting platform for defence, innovation, and industry. The active participation of its Global Sponsors in the most relevant content of the day has demonstrated its leadership in shaping a new model of industrial cooperation, adapted to current challenges and with a vision for the future.
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