site.btaPlovdiv to Host International Defence Forum on June 4

An industrial forum titled "Defence Capabilities, Industrial Capacity, and the Role of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Industry within the European and Allied Defence Ecosystem" will take place on June 4 at the International Fair Plovdiv, the fair's management said on Friday.

The forum will enable strategic dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership building across institutions, industry, and research organizations, the International Fair Plovdiv emphasized. They pointed out that key discussions will focus on new EU defence initiatives such as ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030, SAFE, EDIP, and EDF, as well as opportunities for Bulgarian industry participation in European and allied capability-building programmes.

Additional topics will include innovation, technological development, supply chain resilience, and the role of SMEs, startups, dual-use companies, and R&D in defense ecosystems, along with EU and NATO industrial cooperation. Participants are expected from several ministries, NATO, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space, Bulgaria’s defence industry, high-tech firms, startups, and academia.

Attendance is free but requires prior registration by June 2, 2026.

The event is part of the "Hemus 2026" defense exhibition, which will be held form June 3 to 6 in Plovdiv. It is jointly organized by the Ministries of Defense, Economy, and Innovation and Digital Transformation.