Until 22 October we have two limited offers for you: early bird rates for Day- and Expo Passes or the very special Formnext experience with Premium Pass and VIP benefits.
In addition, we offer special rates for your arrival and stay. When planning your trip, pay attention to the travel specials on our website.
The Formnext Defence Summit connects high-level stakeholders from the military, politics, and the Additive Manufacturing industry. It focuses on forward-looking strategies to strengthen defence and security capabilities across Europe and NATO member states.
The Formnext Defence Summit is a premier high-level event bringing together top-tier experts in the defence and security landscape – military leaders, political institutions, OEMs and industry pioneers in Additive Manufacturing.
Designed for those shaping change and progress, the summit highlights AM as a key enabler of a stronger and more resilient defence ecosystem. From advanced production to secure supply chains, AM is transforming how capabilities are developed and maintained.
By uniting representatives from the military and political spheres with OEMs, AM technology leaders, and industry partners, the summit creates a powerful environment to align operational needs, technological potential, and implementation strategies.
The aim of the summit is to shape the future of defence and security capabilities across the EU and NATO member states by fostering dialogue between stakeholders, decision-makers, and industry.
"As the international hub for Additive Manufacturing, Formnext unites key players from technology, industry, and diverse application areas. It provides the ideal platform to foster closer dialogue between the AM industry and security-related sectors.”
“Additive Manufacturing is a key technology for modern industry. With the Defence Summit, we are providing a dedicated platform to highlight the importance of AM for industrial applications in the security-related sector and to promote professional dialogue.”
Who should attend?
Military leaders and AM users in the defence sector
Government officials and policy decision-makers at EU and national level
OEMs and system integrators in defence and security
Manufacturers and providers of Additive Manufacturing technologies and systems
from EU and NATO countries
The Formnext Defence Summit aims to enable strategic exchange at the highest level and to specifically advance the industrial implementation of Additive Manufacturing in the defence context.
Presentation of AMDefNet at the AM Village in Albacete, Spain.
The Formnext Defence Summit is developed and organized in close cooperation with the Additive Manufacturing Defence Network e.V. (AMDefNet), a European association dedicated to advancing the strategic role of Additive Manufacturing within the defence and security sectors. AMDefNet aims to help shape and strengthen the foundations of a European strategy for AM in these fields.
Bringing together Additive Manufacturing companies, research institutions, OEMs, military organizations, and security stakeholders from across Europe, AMDefNet serves as a catalyst for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation. Creating connections between diverse stakeholders, facilitating dialogue, and bridging different perspectives are at the heart of the association’s mission.
For the Formnext Defence Summit, AMDefNet has played a key role in shaping the conference agenda and leveraging its extensive international expert network. Together, Formnext and AMDefNet are creating a platform that highlights current challenges, pioneering applications, and strategic developments in AM for defence and security, while fostering meaningful dialogue between industry, academia, government, and end users.
At Formnext 2026, AMDefNet will also be represented with its own exhibition stand for the first time, offering a dedicated meeting point for organizations and professionals interested in actively shaping the future of Additive Manufacturing in the security and defence sector through membership and collaboration within the association.
Meet AMDefNet at Formnext 2026Hall 11.0 , Booth F18
“Additive Manufacturing offers distinct advantages for the security and defence industry, enabling more resilient supply chains, shorter response times, and flexible, demand-driven production all the way to decentralized manufacturing solutions. As such, AM is increasingly becoming a strategic factor in security-related scenarios.”
“A close exchange between industry, technology drivers, politics, and the military is essential for European security. Only through dialogue can we effectively develop the necessary requirements, quality standards, and frameworks for cybersecurity and resilient supply chains.”
The Formnext Defence Summit is a complimentary add-on event within Formnext. Participation is included in your regular Formnext ticket. Participation in the summit requires prior registration and accreditation.
Important admission information:
The attendance is subject to a selection and approval process. Please note that accreditation does not guarantee admission to the event.
If you plan to attend only the Defence Summit, we recommend that you do not purchase a ticket until you have received confirmation of your participation following the accreditation process.
Members of the press (military press credentials required) must also register in advance for the approval process. We kindly ask for your understanding that participation is only possible following a successful review and official approval.
Accreditation for the Formnext Defence Summit selection process
Register here to apply for participation in the selection process. We kindly ask for your understanding that the review and approval process may take some time.
Held within Formnext, the world’s leading AM exhibition, the summit delivers a premium conference and networking experience with inspiring keynotes, an expert panel, and experience areas showcasing the use of AM in the future of defence manufacturing.
The focus is on current framework conditions in the NATO and EU context, industrial scaling, procurement, as well as real-world applications along the defence value chain.
Date: 17 November 2026 Start: 10:00 a.m. CET Place: Messe Frankfurt, Portalhaus – Room Transparenz Event language: English
Agenda stage program
10.00 a.m. – 10.15 a.m.
Welcome
10.15 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.
Keynote
10.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.
Panel
11.30 a.m. – 11.40 a.m.
Expert pichtes
From 12.00 p.m.
Experience Areas
Approx. 12:45 p.m.
Close of the event
Our speakers and experts
Major General Rafael Gómez Blanco
Logistic Command, Spanish Air and Space Force
Keynote Speaker and Panelist “AM - a military capability enabler”
Bernd Kögel
Managing Director, DSEI Germany
Panelist “AM - a military capability enabler”
Richard Cummings
Equipment Support Conceptual Capability, British Army
Area Expert “Spare Sparts – Assuring an output”
Johannes Glasemann
CO-Founder Data Capture Systems GmbH
Area Expert “Drone Production / Loitering Ammunition”
Tom Vermandere
Instructor Belgian Defence
Area Expert “Battle Damage Repair”
Jeppe Foshammer
AM capacity owner, The Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation
Area Expert Digitalization (NATO RAPID-e)
Experience Areas – where ideas turn into impact
Each Experience Area kicks off with a compact, high-energy teaser on stage: right after the talks and panel discussions, five high-impact 2-minute pitches—presented by the Area Expert—ignite the key ideas around the topic. Short. Focused. Inspiring.
And then it continues – live on the Experience Area: dive deeper into conversations, ask your questions, build meaningful connections, and explore real, hands-on solutions. The Experience Areas are framed by exclusive company and product showcases, where selected exhibitors present their solutions tailored to each topic.
Spare Parts – Assuring an output Area Expert: Richard Cummings, Equipment Support Conceptual Capability, British Army
Drone Production / Loitering Ammunition Area Expert: Johannes Glasemann, CO-Founder Data Capture Systems GmbH
Battle Damage Repair – “Mission ready again: the role of AM in Battle Damage Repair” Area Expert: Tom Vermandere, Instructor Belgian Defence
Digitalization (NATO RAPiD-e) Area Expert: Jeppe Foshammer, AM capacity owner, The Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation
Airworthieness in Defence Applications Area Expert: tba
Fon Mag Special Security & Defense
The latest issue of Formnext Magazine explores the transformative potential of Additive Manufacturing for this key application sector, highlighting innovative solutions, emerging trends, and pioneering real-world applications.
