Businesses from across the UK defence and aerospace sectors convened in central London last week for an invitation only DSEI Gateway event, bringing senior Ministry of Defence officials together with industry leaders and small and medium sized enterprises.
The gathering attracted a broad cross section of the defence enterprise, with around 80% of attendees representing SMEs. Established defence suppliers were joined by newer market entrants, underlining the increasingly diverse and innovative nature of the sector and the growing role smaller companies play in supporting defence capability.
Strategic Outlook
Designed to provide a strategic outlook for the year ahead, the event offered attendees direct insight into priorities shaping the defence market in 2026. Senior representatives from UK Defence Innovation shared perspectives on technology focus areas, innovation pathways and engagement with industry, while participants were given opportunities to ask questions and engage directly with decision makers.
The session was moderated by Viktorija Starych Samuolienė, Co founder for Strategy at the Council on Geostrategy. Speakers included James Gavin, Deputy Director at UK Defence Innovation, Anita Friend, Deputy Director at UK Defence Innovation and Head of the Defence and Security Accelerator, and Olivia Savage, Editor in Chief at Clarion Defence and Security.
The event also served as a platform to highlight DSEI Gateway, a new membership offering aimed at helping start ups and SMEs navigate the defence market. The programme is designed to support businesses seeking to win contracts, grow networks and engage more effectively with government, prime contractors and investors.
Through face to face access to key stakeholders, tailored business support, exclusive networking tools and tender alerts, DSEI Gateway aims to address common barriers faced by smaller companies entering or scaling within the defence sector. The membership model also includes a programme of year round events intended to foster practical collaboration and commercially focused connections.
Beyond The Showfloor
Powered by the DSEI brand, the global defence exhibition with established platforms in the UK, Japan and Germany, DSEI Gateway seeks to extend the reach of the exhibition beyond the show floor. The initiative combines the scale and profile of a globally recognised trade show with continuous engagement opportunities for SMEs and start ups operating in a complex and highly regulated market.
Commenting on the event, Olivia Savage, Editor in Chief at Clarion Defence and Security, said: “It was an honour to sit down with the new Deputy Heads of UK Defence Innovation to discuss the global and domestic landscape for the year ahead.
“We focused on the key tech priorities for the department, and, most importantly, how we can better bridge the gap between high level strategy and the SME community.
We are planning more sessions designed to give SMEs the insight and clarity they need to navigate the defence sector in 2026.”
