SKYLD Security and Defence Ltd was represented by Mr. Romeos Bratskas at DEFEA Conference 2026, held on 5 May 2026 at the Metropolitan Expo in Athens, Greece. The conference brought together senior representatives from government, defence, security, industry, research and innovation communities, offering a high-level platform for dialogue on the future of European defence, emerging technologies, industrial readiness and cross-border cooperation.
This year’s conference, organised under the theme “Securing Tomorrow: Defence Strategies for the Future”, focused on key issues shaping the European and international defence environment, including strategic autonomy, emerging and hybrid threats, defence innovation, technology transfer, industrial resilience and the transition of advanced technologies into operational use.
A significant part of the strategic context of the conference was shaped by the address of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, who underlined the importance of a stronger and more autonomous European Union in the fields of defence and security. His remarks highlighted the need for increased defence investment, the strengthening of deterrence, the operational development of European defence mechanisms, and the growing contribution of the Cypriot defence industry to Europe’s security and technological readiness.
For SKYLD, the messages delivered during the conference strongly reflect the environment in which the company operates. As a Cyprus-based SME active in defence, security, ICT and European R&D programmes, SKYLD supports the development of practical, mission-oriented technologies that contribute to European defence innovation and security cooperation.
Through its participation in European Defence Fund and security-related projects, SKYLD continues to build expertise in areas such as C2/C4ISR systems, AI-enabled analysis, sensor integration, unmanned systems, maritime and border surveillance, visual analytics, critical infrastructure protection and operational project governance. These areas are directly aligned with the wider priorities discussed at DEFEA Conference 2026, particularly the need to connect innovation, industry and end-user requirements.
During the conference, Mr. Bratskas held a series of meetings and follow-up discussions with representatives from the defence and security community, exploring potential collaboration opportunities related to SKYLD’s technical expertise and ongoing project portfolio. These exchanges focused on future cooperation, complementary capabilities, European consortia, and the role of innovative SMEs in supporting Europe’s defence readiness and technological sovereignty.
President Christodoulides’ reference to the growing role of Cypriot high-technology companies and SMEs in European defence programmes provided an important national context for SKYLD’s participation. It reinforced the relevance of Cypriot companies that are actively contributing to European collaborative defence initiatives, not only as participants in research projects, but also as technology developers, system integrators and trusted partners within the wider defence innovation ecosystem.
SKYLD’s presence at DEFEA Conference 2026 therefore formed part of a broader effort to strengthen its engagement with European defence and security stakeholders, identify meaningful collaboration opportunities, and contribute to the development of advanced, operationally relevant solutions for Europe’s evolving security needs.
SKYLD would like to thank the organisers of DEFEA Conference 2026 for creating a valuable forum for strategic dialogue between defence, security, industry and innovation stakeholders. The company remains committed to supporting a stronger, more resilient and technologically capable European defence and security ecosystem.
