Networking, Funding, Research: The MSC 2026 Side Events — A Powerful Platform

16 February 2026

As part of the 2026 Munich Security Conference (MSC), numerous side events provided high-profile platforms for exchange, dialogue on innovation, and strategic matchmaking. Prof. Dr. Corinna Schmitt, representing FI CODE and NKCS-DE, took the opportunity to participate in the NATO DIANA’s Defense & Security Days 2026, the Munich Security Breakfast 2026, and the MSC Innovation Night, underscoring her role as a catalyst and bridge-builder between research, startups, industry, and security policy stakeholders. The focus was on current developments in security research, European and transatlantic funding opportunities, and the targeted development of resilient innovation networks.

The Defence & Security Days 2026 (February 10–12, 2026, MOTORWORLD Munich) marked the official launch of the third DIANA cohort, comprising 150 innovators, and brought together NATO representatives, the military, procurement agencies, industry, and ecosystem partners. The event centered on a curated three-day program featuring keynote speeches, innovator pitches, and strategic networking. This year’s highlights included the Meet the DIANA Cohort, the Phase-2-Pitches by the 2025 cohort companies, insights into Rapid Adoption Service (RAS) as NATO’s fastest innovation adoption pathway, and a comprehensive overview of the German defense ecosystem featuring live demonstrations, exhibitions, and pitch sessions. Targeted networking formats and the digital platform for scheduling meetings further facilitated structured exchanges between innovators, NATO institutions, and industry partners. Prof. Dr. Corinna Schmitt contributed as a key stakeholder in a challenge-based use-case session on “Next-generation communication and navigation systems for defence use cases”. During the session, she discussed technology-enabled defense applications with innovators from the Advanced Communication Technologies“ and „Contested Electromagnetic Environments“ challenges, posed critical validation questions, and facilitated dialogue between startups and security-related stakeholders.

The Munich Security Breakfast provided an open yet strategically focused framework for dialogue among innovation leaders, security officials, investors, and policymakers in the context of MSC 2026. In a relaxed atmosphere, the focus was not on formal statements but on candid discussions about current security policy challenges and technological solutions. It became clear how important robust networks and trusting partnerships are between startups, established industry players, and public institutions. It was evident that (1) security is built through dialogue and cross-sector networking is crucial, (2) dual-use and deep-tech innovations are gaining strategic importance, (3) speed in innovation and implementation is becoming a competitive factor, and (4) resilience and technological sovereignty remain central guiding principles. Overall, the breakfast event demonstrated once again that early dialogue and mutual understanding are key building blocks for a sustainable security architecture. 

The MSC Innovation Night was a lively evening event that brought together innovators, decision-makers, founders, and investors to discuss cutting-edge technologies and solutions in the fields of security and defense. In a relaxed atmosphere, the focus was on short keynote presentations, live demos, pitch sessions, and lively discussions that not only highlighted innovation but also bridged the gap between ideas, implementation, and strategic relevance. Among other things, the speakers noted that

• Innovation needs a platform and networking — in other words, visibility and exchange strengthen collaboration between startups, research, and institutional actors;
• Relevance meets reality, whereby technological solutions must not only be new but also offer real operational added value;
• Interdisciplinarity becomes essential as a success factor, with effective security technologies emerging where different disciplines collaborate;
• Early validation matters, and direct exchange with users, funders, and strategists accelerates the assessment of relevance and marketability.

All in all, the Innovation Night demonstrated that agile collaboration, bold ideas, and collaborative networks are key drivers of tomorrow’s security and innovation agenda.

Photos: © SeCoSys/Schmitt