News

With great success, the international Matchmaking Event (B2B) organized by the PRAXI Network – coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network Hellas – was completed in collaboration with the organizing team of DEFEA 2025 – Defence Exhibition Athens. The event took place on 7 & 8 May 2025, during the three-day DEFEA exhibition at Metropolitan Expo in Athens.

The two-day brokerage event served as a key platform for business and technological networking in the fields of defence and security, bringing together stakeholders from across the globe with the goal of fostering collaborations in strategic and emerging areas.

Strategic partnerships at the forefront

The matchmaking event’s core mission was to connect companies, research organizations, start-ups, clusters, and institutional stakeholders from Greece and abroad. Through a structured and targeted process, participants had the opportunity to:

• explore common areas of cooperation
• discuss potential research and business partnerships
• identify new technological solutions

Impressive results in numbers

The level of participation and engagement exceeded expectations:

• 550 registered users on the platform
• 320 participants engaged in meetings
• 500 pre-arranged bilateral meetings (B2B) in just two days
• 37 countries represented – confirming the international scope of the initiative

All meetings were scheduled through a dedicated online platform and held on-site at the DEFEA exhibition venue, enabling participants to connect with potential partners, showcase expertise, exchange knowledge on advanced technologies, and explore cooperation opportunities – both in research and commercial contexts.

Focus areas and technology fields

The matchmaking meetings were organized around four core sectors, reflecting the technological diversity and interdisciplinary scope of DEFEA:

Naval Sector

• Naval Platforms and Systems
• Maritime Surveillance and C4ISR
• Shipbuilding, Maintenance, and Security

Aerospace Sector

• Aircraft, UAVs, and Munitions
• Weapon Platforms
• Aerospace Electronics and Space Systems
• Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO)

Army Sector

• Land Platforms, Infantry Equipment, and Defence Systems
• Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) and C4ISR
• Engineering and Logistics Support

Security Sector

• Cybersecurity and Homeland Protection
• Surveillance, Monitoring, and Public Safety
• Critical Infrastructure and Border Protection
• Counter-Terrorism, Law Enforcement, and Disaster Response
• Private and Personal Security

This broad range of topics highlights the importance of dual-use technologies and the need for cross-sector collaboration among researchers, enterprises, and institutional actors.

The role of PRAXI Network and what lies ahead

As coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network in Greece, PRAXI Network actively supports the connection between Greek businesses and research organizations with the wider European and international innovation ecosystem. Through its longstanding expertise in:

• matchmaking events,
• technology transfer,
• innovation strategies, and
• international networking,

the Network plays a vital role in facilitating access to new markets and collaboration opportunities.

The success of the DEFEA 2025 Matchmaking Event is part of PRAXI Network’s broader strategy to promote international outreach and strengthen the competitiveness of Greek organizations in the global defence and security landscape.

PRAXI Network will continue to provide support to participating companies and research bodies, helping them move from initial contact to long-term cooperation.

*See below for photo highlights from the DEFEA 2025 Matchmaking Event.