Defense

Investments in security and defense technology.

Second Forum for Security and Defense Technology in Erfurt highlights opportunities for Thuringian economy.

Published

16.06.2026

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Lukas Schiffner

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The political world order and security situation are fundamentally different than they were a few years ago. In light of this, the federal government and other states are currently investing, and will continue to invest, heavily in their security and defense capabilities. Companies from a wide range of industries can benefit from this. Nearly 300 participants discussed the specific requirements for companies to gain a foothold in the defense sector, both with existing and new developments, on June 10, 2026, in Erfurt.

Particularly in sectors where Thuringian businesses possess strong expertise – optics, sensor technology, electronics, mechanical engineering, and information technology – necessary investment measures offer numerous opportunities. Thuringia's Minister of Economic Affairs, Collette Boos-John, emphasized this point during a panel discussion in Erfurt. She stressed the strategic importance of having domestic development and production capacities for security and defense-related technologies. Investments in this area, therefore, strengthen not only defense capabilities but also regional value creation and innovation in Germany and Europe.

The forum, which we organized for the second time in cooperation with the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs, therefore focused on, among other things, the current security policy situation, procurement programs of the German Armed Forces, entry opportunities for suppliers, and the networking of companies and research institutions. A particular focus was on dual-use technologies with civilian and defense-related applications, for example in the areas of drones, sensor technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

With almost 300 participants, the response to the forum was very strong. This shows that Thuringian companies want to actively seize the opportunities of this future market. I also see this as confirmation of our strategy to position Thuringia early on as a high-performing location in this sector.

Andreas Krey | Managing Director LEG Thüringen

Intelligent and high-performance batteries were also identified as a key factor in a country's defense capabilities. Experts provided concrete answers that afternoon regarding just how essential they actually are, and regarding the security-related conditions that suppliers must adhere to if they want to operate in the defense sector.

Go to the event page Regarding the “Space & Defense” sector