In a period of heightened geopolitical tension, many deep tech companies are expanding their technologies into dual-use or defence-relevant applications – and EIC Scaling Club companies are no exception. It’s a timely move, as solutions that strengthen critical infrastructure, enhance resilience, or support European sovereignty are increasingly drawing the attention of investors across sectors.
While only a few of our scale-ups build solutions for direct military deployment, a much broader group is strengthening security in more indirect but equally important ways. Several of the Club’s scale-ups showcased their work during European Defence Week in Paris and other international events in partnership with the EIC Scaling Club, where they engaged with investors, policymakers, corporates and military representatives.
In this piece, we highlight EIC Scaling Club members whose technologies and innovations have clear dual-use potential in defence – and are helping strengthen Europe’s security landscape for the decade ahead.
In a security landscape where space has become a strategic domain, several members of the EIC Scaling Club’s New Space group are changing how Europe anticipates, protects and operates in orbit. Their technologies – spanning propulsion, surveillance, communications and launch capabilities – are reshaping the defence ecosystem with solutions designed for resilience, autonomy and rapid response.
For example, Finnish Aurora Propulsion Technologies strengthens manoeuvrability and debris mitigation with propulsion and deorbiting systems that give defence and commercial spacecraft greater control in increasingly congested orbits.
German HyImpulse Technologies expands Europe’s access to space by developing hybrid-propelled small launch vehicles. Their approach enables responsive, cost-efficient orbital insertion – a critical advantage for defence missions requiring speed, flexibility and reliable deployment. The company’s potential has been recognised, resulting in major funding rounds: €11.8 million from the European Space Agency and €45 million Series A equity round.
French scale-up Cailabs brings cutting-edge photonics to defence applications. Its laser beam-shaping innovations enhance free-space optical communications and support next-generation directed-energy systems with improved precision and performance. This year, the company secured a major €54 million funding round, including financing from Definvest and Fonds Innovation Defense.
Based in Luxembourg, OQ Technology reinforces secure connectivity with a satellite-enabled 5G IoT network built for global reach. Its infrastructure supports defence logistics, critical assets and missions requiring resilient communications.
French scale-up Aldoria advances orbital security through high-accuracy space surveillance and tracking. Its data services help operators anticipate threats, avoid collisions and maintain operational awareness in an increasingly contested environment.
As digital systems become central to both economic resilience and national security, the EIC Scaling Club’s Next-Gen Computing group brings together companies redefining how Europe computes, secures and analyses information. Their breakthroughs in quantum hardware, edge AI and advanced simulation are setting the pace for the next generation of commercial and defence technologies.
For example, Dutch company QuiX Quantum designs photonic quantum processors that enable ultra-secure communications and high-precision sensing – critical for missions requiring speed, sensitivity and robust protection against emerging cyber threats.
French company Quobly develops silicon-based spin qubit processors that merge industrial scalability with quantum accuracy, offering a pathway to secure, high-performance computing architectures that serve both commercial needs and defence operations.
Quside Technologies, based in Spain, strengthens digital security with quantum random number generators that deliver high-entropy keys for encryption and trusted computation, ensuring resilience across IT systems and defence platforms.
Axelera AI is a well-established Dutch scale-up providing edge AI acceleration hardware capable of real-time image and signal processing, supporting applications ranging from industrial automation to situational intelligence in demanding operational environments. Axelera AI’s potential has been reinforced by some of the largest funding amounts raised by an EIC Scaling Club company (€ 58.3 million Series B round and a € 61.6 million grant).
Basemark is a scale-up from Finland that enhances decision-making with AI-powered simulation and visualisation tools that enable digital twins, mission rehearsal and heightened situational awareness for mobility, aerospace and defence stakeholders.
Last but not least, Norwegian sensiBel pushes the limits of audio intelligence through miniature MEMS microphones that capture high-fidelity sound in compact, rugged formats designed for aerospace, communications and defence systems.
While New Space and Next-Gen Computing include the highest concentration of companies with defence applications or dual-use potential, they are far from the only market groups contributing to Europe’s security landscape. Across the Club, many deep tech scale-ups are advancing technologies that strengthen resilience, protect critical infrastructure and support strategic autonomy.
One example is QuoIntelligence, a Frankfurt-based scale-up from the Digital Security & Trust market group. The company provides AI-driven cyber-threat intelligence that helps safeguard critical infrastructure, support defence organisations and enhance the cybersecurity posture of enterprises operating in high-risk environments.
From an entirely different corner of deep tech, PowerUP Energy Technologies (Clean Fuels & Hydrogen market group) builds portable hydrogen fuel-cell generators that supply clean, silent and dependable power for field operations and off-grid defence needs. The company recently raised a €10 million Series A round. Regarding dual-use applications for deep tech, Power UP’s CEO & founder Ivar Kruusenberg shared his view during the Ambition Forum in Riga:
“European deep tech startups should start looking beyond their narrow domain and should start looking at how we can solve our common European challenges – defence, space, health. I strongly recommend that deep tech companies look more into dual-use applications.”
From our Batteries & Energy Storage market group, Basequevolt’s breakthrough research in solid polymer composite electrolytes has resulted in a massive step forward in lithium-ion technology. Such easily deployable power sources are essential in defence contexts, where access to stable energy cannot always be guaranteed and mission continuity depends on reliable, lightweight storage solutions.
EIC Scaling Club is proud to accompany and elevate the scale-ups that are strengthening Europe’s technological edge and security resilience. By offering tailored growth services, strategic visibility, access to investors and connection to key stakeholders – from industry to policymakers – the Club helps its members explore dual-use opportunities responsibly and ambitiously.
The EIC Scaling Club is a curated community where 120+ European deep tech scale-ups with the potential to build world-class businesses and solve major global challenges come together with investors, corporate innovators and other industry stakeholders to spur growth.
The top 120+ European deep tech companies will be carefully selected from a pool of high-growth scale-ups that have benefitted from EIC financial schemes, other European and national innovation programmes, and beyond.
The EIC Scaling Club is an EIC-funded initiative run in partnership by Tech Tour, Bpifrance (EuroQuity), Hello Tomorrow, Tech.eu (Webrazzi), EurA and IESE Business School.
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