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The event will take place on 8 September 2026 at Targi Kielce during the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO).

Dual-Use: Technologies Bridging Industry and Defence

Today's tech advances rarely fall into strict military or civilian siloes. Innovations created for manufacturing, transport, energy, or communications frequently hold significant strategic value for national defence. Conversely, defense-led developments often provide valuable breakthroughs for commercial markets.

This reciprocal exchange forms the core of the upcoming MSPO conference  with discussions designed to explore how dual-use capabilities can reinforce national defence, drive modern economic growth, and build technology resilience across Poland.

Special attention will be directed toward technology transfer and cross-sector collaboration connecting academia, industry, public administration, and the defence domain. Harnessing these combined competencies remains key to accelerating the transition of theoretical research and prototypes into field-ready applications.

AI, Cybersecurity and Technological Independence

 The conference agenda reflects the expansive scope of modern dual-use applications. Core topics will include the strategic integration of dual-use technology into state security frameworks and future development roadmaps.

Panels will focus on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, next-generation defence technology, and critical infrastructure resilience. A key discussion point will address technological sovereignty—building national capabilities through internal R&D, effective tech transfer, and close civil-military partnerships.

The economic dimensions of dual-use will also feature prominently. Attendees will examine the social, economic, and strategic returns of dual-use investments, exploring ways to simultaneously enhance state security and business competitiveness.

 Universities and industry in the development of dual-use technologies

An important topic of the conference will be the role of universities, research institutes and enterprises as dual-use pathways enable breakthroughs originating outside the conventional arms sector to find direct applications in national security and defence.

The conference aims to provide a dedicated platform for knowledge sharing among representatives of public administration, defence bodies, commercial enterprise, and academic circles. Discussions will cover national R&D development, technological security, and international cooperation strategies for building state-of-the-art defence solutions.

The academic panel features prominent experts representing institutions including the Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, the Warsaw Management University, the Academic Centre for Strategic Analysis, the Air Force Institute of Technology, the Military University of Technology, the Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, WSB University, MORATEX, and the War Studies University. The Scientific Committee is chaired by Prof. Paweł Soroka, PhD, coordinator of the Polish Industrial Lobby.

The Growing Influence of Dual-Use in the Defence Sector

The conference themes align with broader shifts across the security landscape. Developing modern defence capabilities relies less on traditional weapons manufacture alone, and increasingly on access to emerging technology, scientific research, and rapid commercial market deployment.

Therefore, dual-use technologies are important from two perspectives simultaneously.   On the one hand, they can increase a state's ability to respond to military, cyber, infrastructural and economic threats. The development of solutions for the security sector can create new competences, products and development opportunities for enterprises also operating in the civilian market.

“Dual Use Technologies Strengthening National Defence and Economic Development" National Scientific Conference takes place on 8 September 2026 during the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) at Targi Kielce. Admission to the conference is free.

/MBrz/