Meeting with the Capability Development Unit
July 2026
The IDSA membership met with members of the Capability Development Unit in July. The meeting provided members with an opportunity to better understand how the capability development planning is progressing and what this may mean for industry and applied R&D actors.
Inaugural High-Level Defence Conference & Defence Industry Day
11 June 2026
IDSA was pleased to welcome the participation of over 150 senior delegates at its first annual high-level defence conference and defence industry day in Dublin on 11 June 2026.
Under the theme Ireland’s Defence Industrial Moment: Capability & Competitiveness, the conference reflected both the scale of the opportunity and challenge at an important point in Ireland’s relationship with defence and security. Senior delegates attending this conference extended beyond the membership of IDSA to relevant government bodies and agencies; members of the diplomatic corps from over 20 countries including 11 EU Member States; EU sister associations and national clusters; research and university institutions; subject matter experts; and European trade bodies and chambers of commerce.
Key discussions included:
Opening Keynote Address: Reflections on the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union with H.E. Louis Telemachou, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Ireland
High Level Opening Plenary: Irish Defence Priorities and the European Defence Industrial Landscape with Aileen Nolan, Assistant Secretary for Strategic Change & Capability Development, Department of Defence, Ireland and Sir Stuart Atha, Head of UK Delegation to the NATO Industrial Advisory Group
Panel 1 – Cyber, Space & Dual-Use Technology: Ireland’s Competitiveness Edge with Lt Col Michael Cullen, Karen Higgins, Fintan Buckley, Rory O Toole and Joseph Reffitt
Panel 2 – Entering the Global Supply Chain & Navigating EU/International Defence Funding with James Ryan, Alasdair Carwood, Gordon Walsh, Andrea Barbagelata, Denis Collins and Murphy Michael, moderated by Caitriona Heinl
High-Level Keynote Remarks with Lucinda Creighton, CEO, Vulcan Consulting & Former Minister for European Affairs
Panel 3 – Defence Research & Innovation with Dr Diarmuid Ó Briain, Eoin Cullina, Timothy Kelly, Ronan Furlong, and Patricia Moore
Panel 4 – Maritime, Air & Land with Morten Billing, Martin Head, Andrew Walker, Dr. Panayiotis Hadjipavlis, Col AF (Ret.), Steve Kershaw and David Chambers, moderated by Vice-Admiral Mark Mellett (Rtd)
Closing Remarks with Simon Coveney, Former Tánaiste & Former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence
The conference explored how to accelerate the connection between Ireland’s world-class capabilities and the needs of modern defence and security. It featured Irish and international industry participation; highlighted the roles of SMEs and applied R&D in capability development; facilitated networking between Irish enterprises, universities and international counterparts; and supported B2B and B2G networking and pathways for cooperation across technology, production and supply chains.
IDSA extends its sincere appreciation to Act Venture Capital and PwC. Many thanks to all speakers, moderators and delegates who contributed to a successful day.
France-Ireland Defence & Security Forum
29 April 2026
The Irish Defence and Security Association extends its thanks to the Embassy of France in Ireland for organising the France-Ireland Defence & Security Forum. The Forum provided an important opportunity to strengthen engagement between Irish and French stakeholders across the defence, security, and wider dual-use ecosystem, with a particular focus on supporting partnership and cooperation between companies and applied R&D actors in both countries.
This directly supports IDSA’s priorities to create opportunities to showcase Irish enterprises globally, foster bilateral opportunities with individual EU Member States, and support innovative start-ups and SMEs to be integrated into supply chains nationally and internationally. The participation of the Irish Defence and Security Association, Enterprise Ireland, and the Irish Space Association reflected the value of a coordinated approach to promoting Irish capability, identifying areas for collaboration, and supporting Irish companies in accessing international opportunities.
IDSA Meeting with Cyber Ireland
24 March 2026
The Irish Defence and Security Association, together with Cyber Ireland, held a briefing and working discussion for the membership of IDSA and Cyber Ireland on ‘cybersecurity for the defence sector’ on Tuesday 24 March 2026. The members’ meeting brought together senior stakeholders across defence, government, cybersecurity, and industry to explore cybersecurity and defence sector needs and opportunities.
Briefings focused on:
– The National Defence and Cybersecurity Landscape, covering the Defence Forces Cyber Defence Strategy and significant investment in cybersecurity, the Joint Cyber Defence Command, expansion of Ireland’s defence cyber capability and potential cybersecurity solution needs.
– The EU Defence Market for Cybersecurity.
This meeting was of particular value to:
– Cybersecurity companies with an interest in defence sector opportunities.
– Defence companies – in the defence supply chain and seeking cybersecurity partners, as well as integrators & OEMs.
– Government and Public bodies with a defence or security interest.
– Applied R&D units and university research departments focused on cyber, security, defence, and dual-use innovation.
IDSA and Cyber Ireland extend their gratitude once again to the Department of Defence Ireland and the Irish Defence Forces for their expert contributions on this occasion.
The European Network of Defence-related Regions (ENDR) Annual Meeting
18 March 2026
IDSA represented the Irish industrial and applied R&D base at the The European Network of Defence-related Regions (ENDR) Annual Meeting at the European Commission, alongside its fellow ENDR member clusters from across Europe.
The key takeaway is that Europe is scaling defence investment and collaboration at pace, with a strong emphasis on regional clusters like IDSA connecting industry, research and government, and an increasing focus on dual-use technologies (such as AI, cyber, autonomous systems).
IDSA continues to strengthen such a coordinated national approach, powered by the policy and executive support of the The Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Strategy. Bringing together industry, research and government to continue engaging effectively at national and EU level (including on dual-use technologies, and security/defence tech). As the National Defence Industry Association (NDIA), IDSA continues to enhance its critical position in growing at pace and practically supporting this industry and research ecosystem, while further representing its membership within these European networks.
IDSA Meeting with the French Defence Attaché to Ireland
19 February 2026
The Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA), in coordination with the Embassy of France in Ireland, hosted a successful briefing and working discussion on 19 February 2026 with the French Defence Attaché to Ireland, Colonel Henri Leinekugel Le Cocq, and Economic Attaché Maxime Augé. Discussions focused on processes and opportunities relevant to the applied R&D and enterprise sectors in Ireland and France.