Defence Disrupted

Defence Disrupted returns to Central London on Tuesday 20 October, with the day kicking off at 09:00. It's produced by PUBLIC, who bill it as the UK's leading defence innovation event, and the whole point is to get MoD officials, NATO figures, investors and UK innovators in the same room to speed up how new capability actually gets delivered.

The day is built around a full programme of panels and fireside chats, with a few clear themes running through it. From Concept to the Frontline looks at the journey a new idea takes to get into active service; The Capital Stack for Defence gets into the funding side of things; and Strategic Sovereignty touches on the broader picture of national security. It's sponsored by Solita and BAE Systems.

The line-up brings together some of the biggest names in the sector. From the MoD, you've got Caroline Bellamy, Chief Data Officer; Charlie Forte, Chief Information Officer; and Clare Cameron, Director of Defence Innovation. Joining them are NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană and Helsing UK CEO Nick Elliott. It's a heavy-hitting mix of the people running the show and the people building the tech.

If you're coming from the public sector, a startup, an investor, an academic or an NGO, it's free. For everyone else, it's £149 including VAT. The 2025 edition drew more than 150 in-person attendees and over 400 applications, with more than 20 speakers, so it's a decent-sized gathering. Between the sessions, the conversation often drifts to the bigger questions: the growing need for independent assurance as autonomous systems move closer to the frontline, and climate change framed as a security issue that's reshaping national security. It starts at 09:00 in Central London.