You can read more and catch impressions of the European Future Technology Summit 2026 on the website.
At the 4th European Future Technology Summit (EFTS) 2026 in Brussels, around 50 students, young professionals, engineers and researchers from EUREL member countries gathered in the heart of European policymaking to discuss one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: “THE RESILIENCE CODE: From Vulnerability to Resilience – How Technology Can Promote Security and Defence in Europe.” Organised by VDE Policy, VDE Defence and EUREL, the three-day programme examined how Europe can strengthen its resilience in an era shaped by geopolitical competition, hybrid threats, technological dependencies, cyber risks and attacks on critical infrastructure.
The Summit was built around the conviction that resilience has evolved from a technical concept into a strategic necessity. Participants explored how Europe can transform technological vulnerabilities into resilience, strengthen technological sovereignty, safeguard critical infrastructure, and maintain its ability to act in an increasingly uncertain world. Discussions highlighted that resilience today extends far beyond defence policy and encompasses technology, energy systems, industrial capabilities, democratic institutions and societal cohesion. A particular highlight before the official start of the workshop programme was the opportunity for participants to gain first-hand insights into European policymaking through visits to the European Commission and the European Parliament. At the Commission, participants learned about the European Union’s financial priorities, future investments in research, artificial intelligence, infrastructure and defence, and the relationship between innovation and European competitiveness. During a meeting with MEP Hildegard Bentele (EPP), discussions focused on technological sovereignty, industrial competitiveness and the strategic importance of critical raw materials for Europe’s resilience.
Workshops – European Future Technology Summit 2026
- From the War in Ukraine to Hybrid Threats: What Europe Must Learn to Strengthen Its Security
- New Defence: Strengthening Europe’s Security through Innovation
- Blackouts in Distribution Networks: Causes, Actors, Recovery and Civil-Military Coordination
- Integrated Sensing and Communication for a Resilient Society
- Enabling Resilience through Intelligent Decentralised Energy Solutions
- Energy Facilities and Supply Chains as Priority Military Targets: The Case of Ukraine
- Communication as a Layer of Resilience
The workshops demonstrated the broad spectrum of resilience challenges facing Europe. Topics ranged from military and geopolitical assessments, dual-use innovation and technological sovereignty to energy security, communications infrastructure, artificial intelligence and lessons learned from Ukraine. Speakers from NATO, industry, academia, energy utilities and public institutions highlighted the growing importance of resilient systems capable of anticipating disruptions, adapting under pressure and recovering rapidly from crises. A recurring theme throughout the Summit was the experience of Ukraine. Experts presented first-hand accounts of how Russian attacks on energy systems, communications networks and civilian infrastructure have fundamentally changed the understanding of resilience. Participants learned that resilience is not solely a technical challenge but equally a question of leadership, communication, preparedness and societal cohesion.
Conclusion
EFTS 2026 demonstrated that resilience has become one of the defining strategic concepts of the 21st century. Throughout the Summit, participants identified five interconnected dimensions of resilience: societal resilience, resilient critical infrastructure, technological sovereignty, industrial resilience and human resilience.
A central conclusion resonated across all workshops, keynotes and discussions:
Resilience is not the absence of vulnerability. Resilience is the ability to anticipate risks, withstand disruptions, adapt to changing circumstances and recover rapidly.
As participants departed Brussels, one message stood above all others:
Europe cannot prevent every crisis. But Europe can build the resilience required to remain free, capable of action and confident in times of uncertainty.
