Tech-Powered Defense: Europe's Battle for Independence
"Avoiding a future like that portrayed in The Terminator films is our goal"
By Andreas Laukat and Frauke Holzmeier
Europe is stepping up its tech game to strengthen its defense capabilities without falling into the hands of China or the USA. Stefan Röbel, co-founder of Arx Robotics, explains in the ntv podcast "So techt Deutschland" how his company helps save lives on the battlefield, why "Safety First" is no longer enough, and what needs to happen for Europe to remain off-limits to attackers.
Stefan Röbel knows the power of technology: "If our tech works, a parent may return home safely," says the former German army officer about his company's unmanned vehicles designed for supply, reconnaissance, and evacuation. Arx Robotics is part of a booming sector, with $1.3 billion invested in German defense and deep-tech startups in 2024. Companies like Helsing and Quantum Systems prove that Germany has been a player in the military tech game for a while. Daniel Ek, Spotify's founder, even joined the party, leading a $600 million funding round for Helsing.
With a potential war changing every two months, Röbel warns that Europe's bureaucratic processes have been the same for 40 years. If we don't move out of the analog world and into connected, autonomous systems, Europe will continue to be a desirable target. Röbel calls for "Mission First" instead of the outdated "Safety First," and Arx Robotics' vehicles are a "driving Swiss Army knife" for defense work, adaptable to different missions with the right modules.
Arx Robotics' formula for success involves keeping humans in control while making the most of automation. Röbel does not want to see a world where robots rule and humans take the back seat. He wants to empower people, not replace them. It all started as a guerrilla project, with an improvised prototype built from a boombox, a metal pen, and smoke machine parts from the party cellar.
Do you want to know more about the future of defense technology? Listen to Stefan Röbel's entire conversation with Frauke Holzmeier and Andreas Laukat in "So techt Deutschland."
Europe is not messing around when it comes to deep-tech for defense. Here's what it's doing:
- Monumental investments in AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and other essential tech to ensure European control over the underlying stack powering defense capabilities.
- Venture capital focused on early-stage defense deep-tech companies, fostering a robust European defense technology base that can independently supply strategic needs.
- Roaming research projects like Quest, focusing on quantum technologies for encryption-breaking, missile defense, and GPS-denied positioning capabilities, to enhance shared technological sovereignty.
- Defense-driven space investments supporting record-high funding for satellite communication and space asset defense, as Europe aims to become autonomous and advanced in these critical areas.
- Nurturing a pan-European innovation culture that encourages deep-tech startups in critical defense tech domains, paving the way for European leadership in the field.
These efforts show that Europe is committed to building an independent defense technology base, fortifying its resilience and security without relying on China or the United States. The stakes are high, and Europe's actions speak volumes.
- The community policy regarding tech investments is increasingly prioritizing AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, and other essential technologies to maintain European control over the underlying stack powering defense capabilities.
- In terms of finance, venture capital is being directed towards early-stage defense deep-tech companies, with the goal of establishing a robust European defense technology base that can cater to strategic needs autonomously.
- The employment policy in the technology industry is undergoing a significant shift as roaming research projects, such as Quest, are being initiated, focusing on quantum technologies for encryption-breaking, missile defense, and GPS-denied positioning capabilities, fostering shared technological independence among European nations.
