RTU Academic Conference on Unmanned Systems and European Security to Open Drone Summit 2026

Riga Technical University (RTU) will host an international academic conference on 25–26 May titled Building European Strategic Autonomy Through Unmanned Systems and Human-Centric Defence Innovation. The conference is organised as part of the side-event programme of the defence innovation summit Drone Summit 2026.

The aim of the conference is to foster dialogue between academia and policymakers, as well as to strengthen NATO’s scientific and technological capacity in the field of unmanned systems by identifying key gaps and development directions in operational readiness, regulation, industrial capabilities, and human capital.

The conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, and industry experts from across Europe to discuss the development of unmanned systems (UxS) and the role of human-centric defence innovation in the future security landscape. As part of the event, concrete policy recommendations and a technology roadmap will be developed to enhance the strategic competitiveness and defence readiness of allied countries.

The event will take place at RTU’s conference venue The Moon, Ķīpsalas Street 6A.

Participants are invited to register by 30 April by completing the application form. Researchers, scientists, and industry experts are also invited to submit their research presentations. More information.

To strengthen cooperation between the public and academic sectors in defence innovation, RTU, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and the State Defence Logistics and Procurement Centre, is co-organising the defence innovation summit Drone Summit 2026 for the second consecutive year. 

Source: Riga Technical University, Department of Public Affairs