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▶ 14:26 · Defense Tech · Dual-use strategy deemed optimal for defense investing to sustain manufacturing capacity through peace and conflict
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Scaling Europe

Defence, security and resilience funding in Europe grew 4x in 5 years: Sander Verbrugge

2026-03-27 · 4 company · 5 thematic
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sander verbrugge

Partner at the NATO Innovation Fund, a multi-sovereign venture fund backed by 24 NATO allies investing in defense, security, and resilience technologies. Previously at Innovation Industries. Leads investments in dual-use deep tech and works with the fund's mission platform group connecting portfolio companies to MoD demand signals.

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European DSR venture funding quadrupled in five years, late-stage rounds signal ecosystem maturity
Defense, security and resilience VC investment in Europe grew 4x over five years to nearly $9B in 2025, with late-stage mega-rounds dominating growth as early companies mature, prove techno…
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European defense VC ecosystem maturing with geographic expansion into Central and Eastern Europe
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Sensor and actuator layers on NATO's eastern flank identified as dangerously underfunded scale-up gap
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Dual-use strategy deemed optimal for defense investing to sustain manufacturing capacity through peace and conflict
Dual-use technologies allow companies to build robust manufacturing chains and continue development during peacetime via civilian applications, maintaining surge capacity for defense needs…
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Recycling of strategic fibers and composites emerges as resilience play for European defense autonomy
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