From 14 to 16 May 2025, the European Air Transport Command (EATC) attended the European Defence Innovation Days (EDID) in Krakow, Poland—a high-level conference dedicated to shaping the future of the European defence industry. Representing EATC was Dr Alexandre Verlaine, Head of Public Affairs and Protocol.
The conference, organised by the European Defence Agency under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, brought together institutional leaders, national defence representatives, NATO, industry stakeholders, and innovators to explore how Europe can reinforce its technological sovereignty and defence capabilities.
Linking Innovation to Operational Effectiveness
While EATC did not take an active role in the programme, its attendance underscored the importance of remaining engaged with the evolving landscape of European defence innovation. As the command responsible for planning, tasking and controlling multinational air transport assets from seven member nations, EATC continually assesses how technological progress can support its operational mandate.
The first day featured in-depth discussions on procurement and regulatory frameworks, with contributions from the European Commission, NATO, and the European Defence Agency. These topics are of strategic interest to EATC, particularly in relation to the timely and efficient access to modern, interoperable air mobility solutions.
Keynotes from senior Ukrainian officials shared powerful insights into the digitalisation of military operations and rapid integration of innovative technologies—lessons that resonate with EATC’s own efforts to enhance readiness and operational agility.
From Early-Stage Innovation to Fielded Capability
On the second day, institutional and industrial experts discussed bridging the gap between innovation and implementation. Although EATC did not contribute to the discussions, the themes explored—including accelerating the deployment of new technologies—are central to EATC’s own mission of delivering responsive, future-ready air transport solutions.
Breakout sessions highlighted Ukrainian innovation, EU cooperative research, and start-up initiatives, reaffirming Europe’s commitment to fostering collaboration across stakeholders. For EATC, such developments represent valuable opportunities to monitor progress in domains relevant to interoperability, mission support systems, and digital enablers.
A European Momentum for Start-Up Empowerment
The final day was dedicated to European defence start-ups, featuring an AI pitch competition and success stories from across the continent. These sessions showcased the vitality of Europe’s innovation ecosystem and the growing role of new actors in delivering defence capabilities.
Through its presence at EDID 2025, EATC maintained its visibility within the European defence innovation landscape. “Participation in such forums allows EATC to stay attuned to cutting-edge developments and reinforces our commitment to operational excellence through collaboration,” said Dr Verlaine.
EATC’s Perspective in a Dynamic Defence Environment
While not an active contributor to the agenda, EATC’s attendance reaffirmed its interest in contributing to the European dialogue on innovation, interoperability, and future capabilities. As a proven model of multinational air mobility cooperation, EATC continues to observe, adapt, and support initiatives that aim to strengthen Europe’s collective operational readiness.