DEFCROS 3 Opens in Šibenik: Europe’s Security Future, Defence Financing and the Adriatic in Focus
Šibenik, 1 October 2026 - The third edition of DEFCROS, the International Public Safety & Defense Expo, opened its doors this morning at Hotel Ivan, Amadria Park in Šibenik. Over two days, the event brings together exhibitors, government institutions, international delegations from 17 countries, industry leaders and experts to discuss the security challenges facing Europe - and the capabilities needed to meet them.
The opening day combined a high-level conference, an exhibition featuring Croatian and international defence companies alongside national institutions and public services, B2B and B2G meetings, and an evening networking programme.
Official Opening
After registrations from 08:00, DEFCROS 3 was officially opened at 10:00. Opening addresses were delivered by Karlo Ressler, Member of the European Parliament and Member of the Committee on Budgets, together with high-level government representatives. The ceremony set the tone for a day devoted to the question of how Europe turns strategic risk into real defence capability.
Exhibition Tour
The opening ceremony was followed by an official tour of the exhibition. Visitors could meet the Ministry of Defence (MORH) and the Ministry of the Interior (MUP), the Civil Protection Directorate, the Croatian Customs Administration, the Public Fire Brigade Šibenik and the Red Cross Society of Šibenik-Knin County, alongside companies including HS Produkt, Shadow Nautics, ISKRA Shipyards, Navantia, Safariland Group, RIZ Profesionalna elektronika, DEMIL-TECH, MOVEX, Vukovar Security and a Bosnia and Herzegovina area featuring BINAS, BNT, IGMAN, PRETIS and TRZ Hadžići. ASELSAN presented its solutions in the outdoor exhibition area.
Conference: Europe’s Security Landscape After 2026
Following the coffee break, the conference programme - titled “Europe’s Security Landscape After 2026: From Strategic Risk to Defense Capability” - opened with a one-on-one conversation with Domagoj Juričić, an expert in international relations, geopolitics and economic affairs and former Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic of Croatia. The conversation was moderated by Bruno Rukavina, EU projects consultant and PhD candidate at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb.
Financing the Future of Security & Defense
The first panel discussion addressed one of the most pressing questions in European defence today: how to finance it. The panel brought together:
• Howie Lind - Former President and Executive Director, International Stability Operations Association (ISOA)
• Dejan Kovač, PhD - Economist, researcher and analyst with academic experience at Harvard and Princeton
• Prof. Dr. Juliane Hilf - Partner, Freshfields, advising the defence and security sector on regulation, foreign investment, public procurement and transactions
• Lindsey Krummell - President, COO and Co-Founder of LOWI Solutions
The discussion was moderated by Pejo Bosnić of PEAN Global, whose experience spans strategic partnerships, EU-funded projects and the European Defence Fund.
Security in the Adriatic & Mediterranean
After the Gala Lunch, the focus shifted to the region with a panel on security in the Adriatic and the Mediterranean - a theme with particular resonance in Šibenik, a city with a long maritime tradition. Taking part were:
• Marko Košuljandić - President of the Management Board, Shadow Nautics
• Roko Vuletić - President of the Management Board, Iskra Shipyard
• Marijan Lorencin - Founder & CEO, AITAC Group
The panel was moderated by Kristijan Ilovača, Founder & CEO of Sky Fort Systems.
Artificial Intelligence
The conference programme closed with a presentation on artificial intelligence by Dejan Kovač, PhD, examining the impact of AI on the security and defence sector.
Meetings, Networking and the Road to Day 2
From 15:30 to 18:00, the exhibition halls hosted B2B and B2G meetings between companies, government representatives and international delegations, while the day concluded with evening networking from 19:00.
DEFCROS 3 continues tomorrow, 2 October, with a Business Networking Breakfast, a full day of B2B and B2G meetings and presentations, and a Cigar Fireside Chat powered by Havana Cigar Shop, before the official closing at 18:00.
Photos: Rašković Studio
