# MADE IN EUROPE #3: Scaling Defense From EU Strategy to Battlefield Innovation

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2025-06-06
- Length: 23m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-06-06-made-in-europe-3-scaling-defense-from-eu-strategy-to-battlefield-innovation

## Summary

Kitron Group's President and CEO Peter Nilsson and Managing Director Hans Petter Thomassen discuss the urgent scaling of Europe's defense industrial base, highlighting the disparity between rapid electronics manufacturing and slow chemical permitting. They detail how Kitron is leveraging its multi-site European footprint to provide agility for defense tech startups, particularly in drone and laser targeting systems, while navigating complex cross-border security clearances. The conversation emphasizes the need for combined national procurement to justify massive investments in munitions production, contrasting the €15 million cost of an electronics site with the €5 billion required for chemical facilities.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-06-06-made-in-europe-3-scaling-defense-from-eu-strategy-to-battlefield-innovation#t=3) Introduction: Peter Nilsson and Hans Petter Thomassen on EU Defense Strategy
- [1:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-06-06-made-in-europe-3-scaling-defense-from-eu-strategy-to-battlefield-innovation#t=84) The EU Omnibus Bill and the Mix of Primes and Startups
- [4:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-06-06-made-in-europe-3-scaling-defense-from-eu-strategy-to-battlefield-innovation#t=279) Supply Chain Risks: Stockpiling vs. Chemical Permitting Delays
- [8:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-06-06-made-in-europe-3-scaling-defense-from-eu-strategy-to-battlefield-innovation#t=496) Procurement Strategies: Combined Buying and Investment Volumes
- [11:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-06-06-made-in-europe-3-scaling-defense-from-eu-strategy-to-battlefield-innovation#t=718) Kitron's Capacity to Triple/Quadruple Output and Cross-Border Agility
- [16:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-06-06-made-in-europe-3-scaling-defense-from-eu-strategy-to-battlefield-innovation#t=983) The Rise of Defense Tech Startups and Drone Manufacturing
- [21:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-06-06-made-in-europe-3-scaling-defense-from-eu-strategy-to-battlefield-innovation#t=1276) Battlefield Feedback Loops and the Urgency of 'Tomorrow'

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Kitron Group (company)
- Thales (company)
- Rheinmetall (company)
- European Defence Fund (other)
- SAFE programme (other)
- IPC (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#007 - How one company wants to radically cut down the lead-time of electronics manufacturing of all volumes, with Radu Diaconescu of Swie.io, Switzerland](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-01-04-007-how-one-company-wants-to-radically-cut-down-the-lead-time-of-electronics-man) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [Bonus Episode: Resilient Supply Chains for Robotics (ERF 2026)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-06-01-bonus-episode-resilient-supply-chains-for-robotics-erf-2026) (Robot Talk)
- [Scaling Additive Manufacturing — Special IMTS Edition](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2023-01-10-scaling-additive-manufacturing-special-imts-edition) (Additive Snack)
- [Scaling an IoT Business | Vutility's Stephen Prince | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-10-17-scaling-an-iot-business-vutilitys-stephen-prince-internet-of-things-podcast) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [297: Defense Spending, Contract Manufacturing, and Navigating Regulated Industries with Fathom CEO Rush LaSelle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-07-28-297-defense-spending-contract-manufacturing-and-navigating-regulated-industries) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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