AI• Counter-Drone • Missile Detection • Cyber Defence

DefenceTech Switzerland 2026
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Get your ticketBecome a Partner
Zurich
June 9, 2026
pre-ILA strategic briefing
13:30- 17:30
Apéro

Overview

Recent conflicts have fundamentally changed modern defence. Large-scale deployment of drones, loitering munitions, and AI-driven systems is no longer experimental — it is operational reality.

This creates urgent pressure to:
- detect and respond to threats in real time
- protect critical infrastructure and airspace
- deploy systems faster and at lower cost

DefenceTech Switzerland 2026 brings together leaders from defence, procurement, and industry to focus on one question:

What actually works — and what scales?

Key Topic Areas

Counter-Drone & Airspace Protection
  • detection and tracking of UAVs
  • electronic warfare and signal disruption
  • kinetic and non-kinetic drone interception
  • protection of airports, cities and infrastructure
AI for Air Defence
  • AI-assisted threat classification
  • real-time sensor fusion
  • automated defence decision support
  • predictive defence analytics
Cyber Defence, Critical Infrastructure Protection & Cyber Crisis Management
  • protection of energy infrastructure
  • defence of telecommunications networks, datacenters
  • protection of industrial systems (OT / ICS)
  • resilience against hybrid attacks

Swiss & European Technology Companies

DefenceTech Switzerland 2026 brings together Swiss and European companies developing defence technologies including:

  • counter-drone systems
  • air defence technologies
  • defence AI and analytics
  • cybersecurity and infrastructure protection
  • sensors and advanced electronics

The event connects established defence companies, innovative startups and research institutions across Switzerland and Europe.

Participants and Invited Speakers

Invitations will be extended to representatives from organizations including:

  • European and Swiss Ministries of Defence
  • NATO-affiliated innovation and capability programs
  • EU defence initiatives (e.g. DG DEFIS)
  • Leading defence and dual-use companies
  • armasuisse , Swiss Federal Department of Defence,  Civil Protection and other Swiss defence initiatives

Who Should Attend

- defence and aerospace companies
- drone and counter-drone technology firms
- cybersecurity leaders
- government and defence agencies
- venture capital and investors
- research institutions and universities

Event Format

Full-day conference in Zurich including :
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  • keynote presentations
  • expert panel discussions
  • technology demonstrations
  • networking sessions
  • exhibitions

The focus is on practical technologies addressing emerging airspace and infrastructure security challenges.

Speakers

Chatham House, Senior Consulting Fellow
Keir Giles
Keir Giles is an associate fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme. Keir has supported the institute in its Russia-focused research since 2013. Previously, he worked with the BBC Monitoring Service and the UK Defence Academy, where he wrote and advised on Russian military, defence and security issues including human factors influencing Russian security policy, Russian strategy and doctrine, the Russian view of cyber and information security, and Russia’s relations with its neighbours in Northern Europe. Show less Keir is the author of multiple publications explaining the Russian approach to warfare, including NATO’s Handbook of Russian Information Warfare (NATO Defense College, 2016); and Moscow Rules: What Drives Russia to Confront the West (Brookings/Chatham House, 2019), an examination of the persistent factors causing relations with Russia to fall into crisis. He has previously outlined key principles for deterring Russia in What deters Russia: Enduring principles for responding to Moscow (Chatham House, 2021) and described Russia’s own successful campaigns of using nuclear threats for deterrence in Russian nuclear intimidation: How Russia uses nuclear threats to shape Western responses to aggression (Chatham House, 2023). His most recent book is Russia’s War on Everybody: And What it Means for You (Bloomsbury, 2022), describing the human impact of Russia’s campaigns to acquire power and influence around the world. In addition to Keir’s work with Chatham House, he leads the Conflict Studies Research Centre, a group of subject matter experts in Eurasian security.
Associate Professor at Northeastern University
Prof. Dr. Aanjhan Ranganathan
Aanjhan is an associate professor (with tenure) in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, USA. He is also an affiliate faculty in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His current research revolves around the security and privacy of wireless networks with a strong focus on autonomous cyber-physical systems and smart ecosystems. He has worked on a wide variety of topics including physical-layer security of wireless systems, secure localization and proximity verification, trusted computing architectures, and side-channels. He is a recipient of several awards including the outstanding dissertation award from ETH Zurich, regional winner of European Space Agency’s Satellite Navigation competition and the Cyber Award from Armasuisse (Switzerland’s Department of Defense). Prior to joining Northeastern, he was a senior researcher in the System Security group at ETH Zurich and has over 3 years of industry research experience as a senior engineer at Robert Bosch GmbH’s Car Multimedia Division “Blaupunkt” where he was involved in the development of embedded modules for top automotive manufacturers including Audi and Volkswagen. He holds an M.Sc with specialization in Electronics and Microelectronics from EPFL, Switzerland and a Ph.D in Computer Science from ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
Researcher in Technology and Geopolitics at the Center for Security Studies
Ivan Zaccagnini
Ivan Zaccagnini is a researcher in technology and geopolitics at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich. He is enrolled in a joint Ph.D. program between the LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome and the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Brussels. His work has been published in International Security, Security Studies, Contemporary Security Policy, Journal of European Integration and Geopolitics. Ivan also works as teaching assistant for International Relations and Political Risk Analysis at the Department of Political Science at LUISS University. Since 2020, he worked as Research Assistant at the Center for International and Strategic Studies (CISS-LUISS). With the financial support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, he co-authored two studies on military drones and the hider-finder competition in air warfare, published respectively on International Security and Security Studies. Ivan graduated from Roma Tre University in Rome with an M.A. in International Relations: Peace, War, and Security. He then completed an Executive Course in Strategic Affairs organized by LUISS Guido Carli University in collaboration with the Italian Department of Information for Security (DIS). His research interests focus on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, Future of War and Great Power Competition. The title of his doctoral thesis is “Europe's Place in US-China Technology Competition. Insights from Wedging, Binding and Dynamic Sequencing.”
ICS-OT-IIoT Cyber Security Consultant | Certified Lead Auditor
Daniel Ehrenreich
Daniel Ehrenreich, B.Sc. Engineering, MBA for Engineers, CISSP, ISO27001 Lead Auditor, SCCE- Secure Communications and Control Experts. Daniel has over 35 years of experience with ICS-OT systems for electric power, water, sewage, oil, and gas industries. Daniel is an active member of several ISA-IEC 62443 committees and has published over 150 professional & short papers in Israel and abroad. Since 2010, Daniel has combined his ICS-OT-IIoT engineering activities with cybersecurity, consulting and delivering training sessions in Israel and worldwide. Daniel previously held senior positions in Israel at Waterfall Security, Siemens, and Motorola Solutions, dealing with cyber defense for industrial operations. Since 2016, Daniel has been the permanent Chairperson for the ICS CyberSec Conference in Israel.
President High-Tech Connect
Ralf Haller
With 25+ years in high-tech, I’ve been fortunate to help companies grow by combining data-driven marketing, strategic partnerships, and practical go-to-market execution. My journey has taken me from Silicon Valley to Switzerland, across roles in product marketing, product management, business development, and innovation leadership. I’ve worked with B2B companies in AI, data engineering, legal tech, and IT infrastructure, always with a focus on delivering measurable results, building trust, and creating lasting market impact. Along the way, I’ve built and led international marketing teams, launched high-ROI campaigns, and learned the value of staying hands-on. My background mixes deep technical training (MSc EE from KIT, MSc Data Science from MIT) with executive education (INSEAD) and three decades of real-world experience. Today, I’m passionate about scaling AI-first platforms and supporting the adoption of transformative technologies in Europe.

Draft Agenda

Counter-drone technologies & airspace protection.

AI for air defence systems.

Cyber defence & critical infrastructure protection.

Time - CET
Type + Moderator
ThemE
12:30
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Registration & Networking Coffee
13:10
Opening Keynote
The New Era of Drone and Missile Warfare
13:30
1:1 chat with Ivan Zaccagini
Emerging Technologies and the Enduring Elements of Warfare
13:50
Prof. Aanjhan Ranganathan
Panel: Counter-Drone Technologies & Airspace Protection
14:50
-
Networking Break and exhibition
15:20
Ralf Haller
Panel: AI for Air Defence Systems
16:20
Daniel Ehrenreich
Panel: Cyber Defence & Critical Infrastructure Protection
17:20
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Networking Apéro and exhibition

DefenceTech Switzerland 2026 — Agenda

Theme:

Ukraine proved us wrong. What Europe must fix now.

13:30 — Welcome & Framing

‍Ralf Haller

  • Why this event
  • Why now
  • What is at stake for Europe

13:40 — Opening Keynote: Strategic Reality Check

Keir Giles (Chatham House)
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Topic:
Europe’s Strategic Blind Spots — Russia, NATO, and What Comes Next

  • Misreading Russia and the war
  • NATO and transatlantic dynamics
  • Scenarios Europe must prepare for

14:10 — Frontline Reality: Ukraine

Come Back Alive Foundation
‍(Interview format)
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Moderation: Ralf Haller

Topic :
What Modern Warfare Actually Looks Like Today

  • Drone warfare (Dronefall insights)
  • UGVs and rapid battlefield iteration
  • Training, analytics, real-time adaptation
  • What Europe still underestimates

14:40 — Operational Lessons from the Battlefield

Jorge Rivero

  • Ivan Zaccagnini

‍Topic :
From Battlefield to Capability: What Must Change

  • What Ukraine teaches about force structure
  • Russian war technology & strategy
  • Gap between doctrine and reality
  • Implications for European defence planning

15:15 — Break (Networking)

15:40 — Technology Deep Dive: Drones, RF, Autonomy

‍Prof. Dr. Aanjhan Ranganathan

  • Niklaus Stocker (Swiss Drone Competence Center)

‍Topic :
“The Drone War: RF, Countermeasures, and Autonomous Systems”

  • RF battlefield dynamics
  • Counter-drone technologies
  • Swiss capabilities & innovation
  • What comes next in autonomous warfare

16:15 — Cyber & Critical Infrastructure

Daniel Ehrenreich
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Topic:
Cyber Warfare Against Critical Infrastructure — Lessons from Ukraine & Europe

  • Real attack patterns
  • Vulnerabilities in energy, transport, telecom
  • What organisations must fix now

16:40 — Closing Panel: What Europe Must Do Now

All speakers (selected)

Moderation: Ralf Haller
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Title:
From Insight to Action: Fixing Europe’s Defence Gap

  • Where Europe is lagging most
  • What must change in the next 24 months
  • Role of industry, AI, and procurement
  • Final takeaways

17:20 — Closing Remarks

Ralf Haller

17:30 — Apéro & Networking

Sponsorship Opportunities

DefenceTech Switzerland 2026 connects companies shaping the future of air defence, counter-drone technologies, cybersecurity and defence AI.
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Sponsors gain:

  • visibility among Swiss and European defence technology leaders
  • access to decision makers across the defence ecosystem
  • opportunities to build strategic partnerships

Organizations active in defenceAI, radar, sensors, counter-drone systems, cybersecurity or defence infrastructure technologies are invited to participate.

Organised by

High-Tech Connect

Itziker Dorf-Str. 82

CH-8627 Grüningen

Switzerland
info@hitechconnect.org
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