Europe is moving fast to rebuild stockpiles, close capability gaps, and harden existing systems especially against cyber threats. But a new wave of emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs) is reshaping the nature of conflict and the definition of military advantage, from AI and autonomy to space, biotech and quantum.
This paper, “The Defense Technology Frontier: How Europe Could Lead” (BCG / BCG Henderson Institute, February 2026), offers a timely framework for leaders across government and industry to make sharper choices about where Europe should lead, where it must catch up, and where it should partner.
The headline issue: Europe’s research-to-development gap
The report finds Europe has world-class research capacity, but struggles to translate that advantage into deployable products highlighting a recurring gap between leading publications and high-quality patents across NATO’s nine EDT areas.
A key driver identified is the lack of consistent “demand pull” from domestic military end users, alongside weaker pathways to commercialisation and fragmented markets.
A practical way to prioritise investment
Rather than arguing Europe should try to lead in everything, the report proposes a prioritisation model across 19 high-impact frontier defence tech applications, selected from an initial longlist and mapped across three time horizons.
It then groups these applications into four strategic postures, based on the speed of evolution and Europe’s relative momentum:
• Partner to close the gap
• Double down to lead
• Shape standards to build influence
• Monitor and invest to create optionality
Why this matters for UK/NATO decision-makers
The report is especially relevant to anyone focused on converting investment into outcomes because it links technology ambition to the practical blockers that slow fielding and scale, including procurement timelines and the challenge of turning pilots into deployable capability.
You can access the full PDF here.
COMMENTS