Defense as an Opportunity for Suppliers from Upper Franconia

September 30, 2026

The conference in Coburg highlights opportunities for suppliers in the defense sector: from market entry and certification to resilience and new business areas.

Approximately 200 representatives from industry, politics, the German Armed Forces, and economic development agencies gathered on September 23, 2026, at the Rosengarten Congress Center in Coburg for the conference “Defense as an Opportunity for Suppliers.” The event was organized by the Coburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) in collaboration with the European Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg and the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IHKs) of Nuremberg and Bayreuth.

The focus was on the opportunities that the growing security and defense market can offer small and medium-sized supplier companies. Presentations covered topics such as entering the defense industry, certification and resilience requirements, Bundeswehr procurement processes, and practical examples of successfully transitioning from automotive to defense business models.

Dirk Maaß, Head of Transformation Guidance at Bayern Innovativ, and Transformation Guide Dr. Matthias Werner presented Bayern Innovativ’s extensive consulting and funding programs in the SVI sector.
A key takeaway from the conference: The defense sector can open up attractive diversification and growth opportunities for select companies. However, this requires long-term strategies, robust networks, regulatory expertise, and a realistic assessment of one’s own capabilities. The high number of participants and the intensive exchange of ideas demonstrated that many companies are actively seeking new business areas in the wake of industrial structural change.