On October 8, we joined forces with CADTECH to host the Defense Engineering Forum 2026 at the BCIN in Badalona, Spain. The event brought together more than 300 professionals from 150 companies, along with representatives from the Spanish Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces, industry, and the technology sector, to explore how to increase the participation of Catalonia’s industrial sector in major national and European defense programs.
The event was attended by Colonel Pedro Valdés Guía, Spain’s Defense Delegate in Catalonia, and Admiral Aniceto Rosique Nieto, Director General of Armament and Material at the Spanish Ministry of Defense, who delivered the closing remarks. Their participation underscored the importance of strengthening ties between government institutions, the Armed Forces, and the business community to identify industrial capabilities and facilitate their integration into new programs.
Engineering, Technology, and Collaboration to Drive the Defense Industry Forward
Throughout the event, major corporations, SMEs, startups, technology centers, and public institutions shared their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities arising from the sector’s evolution. One of the key messages was the need to connect existing industrial and technological capabilities with the requirements of defense programs, making it easier for new companies to join their supply chains.
In this context, David Prieto, CEO of CT, highlighted the opportunities presented by increased defense spending to strengthen industrial capabilities, drive the development of new technologies, and create specialized jobs. As he stated, “Defense is no longer just a matter of military capability, but also of industrial strength and technological sovereignty.” His remarks emphasized the role of engineering and collaboration between companies as key drivers in capitalizing on the opportunities emerging for the industry.
Participants agreed on the need to accelerate technological development, strengthen production capacity, and foster collaboration among major defense contractors, SMEs, and startups. They also discussed the barriers companies face when seeking to enter the sector, including certification and security requirements, as well as the need to raise awareness of their capabilities and find the right partners.
Artificial intelligence, supercomputing, digital engineering, advanced simulation, and dual-use technologies also featured prominently. These solutions make it possible to leverage expertise developed in other industrial sectors and apply it to defense challenges, opening up new avenues for innovation and growth.
Catalonia has a business, technology, and university ecosystem with significant capabilities in these fields. The challenge lies in connecting these capabilities with the sector’s needs, fostering new partnerships, and enabling companies from industries such as aerospace, automotive, and telecommunications to explore new opportunities.
A Forum Bringing Together Stakeholders from Across the Value Chain
The Defense Engineering Forum 2026 featured representatives from companies including GUTMAR, Indra, Airbus GeoTech, Sateliot, GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas, Dassault Systèmes, and Boost Air Group, as well as organizations and institutions such as CDTI, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Leitat, TEDAE, the Círculo Foundation for Defense and Security Technologies, Secartys Group, and AeroS Ecosystem.
Speakers included Pedro A. Fuster González, Defense Consultant; Roberto Trigo, Head of Multilateral and Dual-Use Technology Programs at CDTI; Pierre Geffroy, Director of Defense Strategy at Dassault Systèmes; Gonzalo Ruiz de Aguiar Hernando, Deputy Country Manager for Iberia at the same company; Joan Farnós Baulenas, Head of Dual-Use Technologies at BSC; and Miguel Ángel Morell, CEO of Boost Air Group.
The panel discussions brought together Joan Martorell Castillo, President of GUTMAR; Sergio Gamo, representing Indra; Eric Ferrando Molina, Head of Defense at Leitat; Alejandro Cambra Escoda, Managing Director & CEO of Airbus GeoTech; Carlos Riopedre, CEO of Sateliot; David Lugo Álvarez, Engineering Director at GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas; Silvia Gamo, representing the Círculo Foundation; César Ramos Villena, Director General of TEDAE; Jordi Aguasca, CEO of Secartys Group; and Neus Olea, Director of AeroS Ecosystem.
The discussions explored opportunities from complementary perspectives, including the needs of major contractors, the potential of technology and industrial companies, the role of research centers, and the contribution of industry associations in connecting businesses with government institutions. Participants also presented initiatives related to supercomputing, artificial intelligence, and the development of new industrial infrastructure.
CT Ingenieros: Driving the Future of the Defense Industry
The Defense Engineering Forum 2026 marks another step forward in our commitment to technological development and industrial collaboration. In a sector that demands increasingly complex solutions, engineering plays a fundamental role in integrating technologies, accelerating system development, and turning knowledge into industrial capabilities.
At CT Ingenieros, together with CADTECH, we aim to continue promoting initiatives that bring key industry stakeholders together and uncover new opportunities for collaboration. We believe that many of the capabilities required by the defense sector already exist within our industrial ecosystem. Connecting and strengthening these capabilities, and facilitating their participation in new programs, represents an opportunity to reinforce the industrial base and contribute to technological advancement.
We would like to thank all the speakers, participants, and institutional representatives for their contributions to this event. Their involvement encourages us to continue working to connect engineering, technology, and industry and create new opportunities for the defense sector.
