On November 12, 2024, the Hungarian Presidency hosted the EUMC Mini Away Day at the Liszt Institute – Hungarian Cultural Center Brussels in Brussels, focusing on “Defence Industry and Innovation.” Before Major General Tamas Sandor, NATO and EU Military Representative of Hungary in Brussels, officially opened the event, Dr. Tamas Ivan Kovács extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador, welcomed the distinguished guests.
Aligned with the Strategic Compass and the Hungarian Presidency’s priorities, the event aimed to advance efforts in building a competitive and innovative European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), thereby contributing to the EU’s strategic autonomy.
The first panel featured Dr. Gergely Németh, CEO of VIKI, who presented Hungary’s defence innovation objectives. He highlighted VIKI’s pivotal role in advancing modern defence capabilities within both EU and NATO frameworks.
In the second panel, Siklósi Péter, Senior Manager at HypeX Consulting, analyzed the impact of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and developments in the Middle East on defence innovation trends and the broader defence industry.
The third panel saw Col. Attila Simon, Head of the MoD Defence Industrial Working Group for the Hungarian EU Presidency, outlining achievements and future objectives for the Hungarian defence industry.
The event also featured VIKI’s innovative VR and MR simulation systems, presented by XR Researcher Gergely Kovacs. These cutting-edge solutions showcased the transformative potential of XR technologies in enhancing operational training, optimizing decision-making, and improving situational readiness.
By facilitating discussions and showcasing forward-looking technologies, the initiative underscored Hungary’s and VIKI’s commitment to aligning defence innovation with European and transatlantic priorities. It reflected a strategic approach to integrating innovative solutions into defence frameworks, addressing emerging security challenges, and strengthening collaboration within the EU and NATO.
