The Department of Digitalisation will cover most of the exhibition fee for six Madrid-based companies at NATO Edge 2026, which will be held in November in Turkey.
The Community of Madrid will finance the participation of six startups from the region in NATO Edge 2026, the international meeting on innovation and digital transformation applied to Defence organised by NATO. The event will take place from 17 to 19 November in the Turkish city of Izmir.
The Digitalisation Minister, Miguel López-Valverde, explained that the aim is to “support regional companies with the greatest innovative potential so they can compete in the main international arenas and turn their talent into new growth opportunities.”
The selected companies will be able to showcase their solutions to potential clients or partners in the event's exhibition space for a reduced contribution of €950 plus VAT, compared to the usual €6,000 per company. The difference will be covered by the regional government.
Additionally, they will have access to workshops and sessions on requirements and procurement plans, and will be able to hold meetings with officials from the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) to validate their proposals and explore collaboration avenues.
The call is open to companies based or operating in the Community of Madrid specialising in Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, health, energy, space technologies, or critical infrastructure. Interested parties can submit their applications until 18 August through the form available on the Department's website.
In the selection process, special consideration will be given to startups that have or are in the process of obtaining quality standards for the military industry AQAP or PECAL, as well as their previous experience in NATO-related programmes or projects. They must also have a website in English.
López-Valverde emphasised that “dual-use technologies represent a strategic area for economic development and innovation,” and that this initiative will allow Madrid startups to “establish high-level contacts, access new markets, and strengthen their positioning in a sector with great future potential.”
For companies in the region, this is an opportunity to gain visibility in a key international forum for the Defence sector, with financial backing from the regional government. Applications will be resolved in order of merit according to the published criteria, and participation in the event entails a minimal outlay for the chosen ones.
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