10 key November events in defence tech

The main events in November for Ukrainian defence tech will be the European Defense Tech Hackathon in Kyiv, hosted in the capital for the first time, and the UK-UA Defence Tech Forum, taking place in London for its fourth edition.

This list of interesting events in November is not exhaustive. In its traditional monthly selection, the editorial team has compiled 10 events that are worth considering in the near future. The full list of events is available in the calendar, which Defender Media compiles in collaboration with Techosystem Defense.

A series of hackathons from the European Defense Tech Hub

Where and when:

• Kyiv, Ukraine, November 6-9
• Paris, France, November 7-9
• Berlin, Germany, November 13-16
• Zurich, Switzerland, November 28-30

The main continental hackathon in the field of defence tech will visit four major European cities in November – in addition to Kyiv, these will also be the capitals of Germany and France, as well as Zurich, Switzerland.

The Democracy Tech Talk & Pitch Competition

Where: Kyiv, Ukraine
When: November 7

The Democracy Tech Talk & Pitch Competition for entrepreneurs, developers, and innovators will be held in Kyiv. The event is organized by YEP accelerator and The Alliance of Democracies to showcase technologies that impact Ukrainian society.

The event will also be useful for startups working on innovative solutions in the field of defence.

Defense & Security 2025

Where: Bangkok, Thailand
When: November 10-13

The leading Asian event in the field of defence and security, organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Defense & Security has been held every two years for 20 years and welcomes the region’s top officials from the army, navy, and air force, as well as ministries of defence, ministries of interior, police chiefs, customs, coast guard, and other government agencies.

Tectonic European Defense Summit

Where: Paris, France
When: November 12-13

In the middle of the month, Paris will host the Tectonic European Defense Summit, which will bring together founders, investors, military leaders, and politicians who are shaping the future of European defense. During two days of panel discussions and networking, participants will attempt to answer an important question: what does the future hold for Europe and how can the continent ensure its security in an increasingly unstable world?

Speakers include representatives of Ukrainian defence tech companies: Eveline Buchatskiy from the D3 Foundation, Misha Rudominsky from HIMERA, and Serhiy Kuprienko from Swarmer.

Defense Tech Week 2025

Where: Washington, USA
When: November 17-21

The US capital will host a week of defence technology. It will bring together civilian and military leaders to explore how new technologies are changing military operations and national security priorities.

The event is organized by the specialized publication DefenseScoop. More than 10,000 participants, 100 events, and 150 top speakers are expected to attend.

Fourth UK-UA Defence Tech Forum

Where: London, The UK
When: November 18

The UK-UA Defence Tech Forum is a series of conferences designed to strengthen cooperation between Ukrainian, British, and international defense technology companies, as well as the venture community, to increase production volumes and accelerate research and development, as well as the implementation of innovations.

The event will traditionally take place at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Many speakers from Ukraine are expected to attend the forum, including Oleksandr Yakovenko from TAF Industries, Artem Vyunnyk from Athlon Avia, Perry Boyle from MITS Capital, Valery Borovyk from First Contact, Marian Sulym from Zvook, Vlad Piotrovsky from Dwarf Engineering, and others.

Defender Media is once again a partner of the forum, offering our readers a 25% discount.

Milipol Paris 2025

Where: Paris, France
When: November 18-21

A leading event in the field of internal security and protection, held under the patronage of the French Ministry of the Interior. The exhibition is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors and 1,100 exhibitors. Several Ukrainian manufacturers will also take part in the event.

Do you know of an interesting event that is not yet on our calendar or that should be added to our digest? Write to team@thedefender.media.