International Expert Panel: “Redefining Energy Resilience as a Key Defence Capability”

The international expert panel “Redefining Energy Resilience as a Key Defence Capability” is part of Slovenia’s Strategic Initiative to establish energy resilience as one of the key defence capabilities and is one of the key international expert activities of the SIDEC 2026 programme. The initiative aims to connect the European strategic dialogue with operational needs, research and innovation, industrial capabilities and the development of future defence capabilities.

Within SIDEC 2026, the panel provides a dedicated space for strategic and expert discussion on energy resilience, linking the defence-industrial and technological dimension of the fair with broader European perspectives on defence policy, capability development, research and innovation.

Background

The changing security environment, the growing vulnerability of critical infrastructure, the increasing electrification and digitalisation of defence systems and the growing dependence on a reliable energy supply are fundamentally changing the role of energy in defence.
Energy resilience should therefore no longer be treated merely as a matter of energy or logistical support, but as an important factor in operational readiness, mission continuity, autonomy, mobility, and the resilience and effectiveness of future defence capabilities.
The panel will bring together senior representatives of defence, European institutions, energy and critical infrastructure, industry, and research and innovation, who will address energy resilience from complementary strategic, operational, technological and industrial perspectives in a single moderated strategic discussion.

Objective of the event

The objective of the event is to stimulate strategic and expert discussion on energy resilience, linking the defence-industrial and technological dimension of the fair with broader European perspectives on defence policy, capability development, research and innovation. The panel seeks to foster a common European dialogue on future capabilities and on the transition from innovations and individual technologies to comprehensive, operationally deployable solutions.

Who should attend

• representatives of companies and industry developing technologies, products and integrated solutions in the fields of energy, defence, mobility, infrastructure and dual use who wish to better understand the future needs of the defence sector;
• representatives of research and development organisations who wish to link their research, technologies and innovations with operational needs and the development of future defence capabilities;
• representatives of the Slovenian Armed Forces, other armed forces and defence institutions interested in solutions for strengthening energy resilience, operational readiness and autonomy;
• representatives of government bodies, ministries and European institutions involved in shaping defence, energy, research and innovation, and development policies and programmes;
• SIDEC 2026 visitors and other experts interested in future defence technologies, energy resilience and opportunities for national and international cooperation in this field.

Panel Format

The International Expert Panel is a dedicated 90-minute session within the official professional programme of SIDEC 2026.

The 90-minute session will consist of:

• 15 min | Setting the Scene 
  Why Energy Resilience Matters for Future Defence Capability Development

• 60 min | International Expert Panel 
  Interactive moderated strategic discussion

• 15 min | Audience Discussion & Conclusions

The panel will bring together complementary defence, European institutional, security and defence policy, energy and critical infrastructure, industrial, research and innovation perspectives.

Moderator

The panel will be moderated by:

• Colonel Robert ŠIPEC
  Head of the Energy Efficiency and Green Transition Division
  Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia

Panelists

The final composition will be updated following formal confirmation of all panellists.

National & Allied Defence Perspectivenational and allied defence priorities, operational requirements and the end-user perspective on Energy Resilience, including its role in strengthening operational readiness, resilience and future defence capabilities.

• Dr Erik KOPAČ
  State Secretary
  Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia

European Defence & Capability PerspectiveEuropean defence RTI, capability needs and opportunities for collaborative capability development.

• Michał WIERCIŃSKI
  Deputy Director RTI & Head of Unit, EU-funded Defence Research
  European Defence Agency (EDA)
• Giuseppe DELLO STRITTO
  Head of Unit Land and Logistics, Capability, Armament & Planning Directorate
  European Defence Agency (EDA)

European Security & Defence Policy PerspectiveEuropean security and defence policy and the strategic dimension of Energy Resilience, including its role in strengthening defence readiness, resilience and cooperation between Member States and European institutions.

• Representative of a relevant EU institution – TBC

Energy & Critical Infrastructure Perspectiveenergy policy, energy security and critical infrastructure, with particular attention to the interdependencies between civilian and defence energy systems and their contribution to national and defence resilience.

• Dr Tomaž ŽAGAR
  State Secretary for Energy
  Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy of the Republic of Slovenia

International Industry Perspectiveindustrial and technological perspective on the development, integration and deployment of Energy Resilience solutions, including solutions addressing defence needs and relevant civil-defence energy interdependencies.

• Juan José FORTEZA ESTEBAN
  Head of R&D
  THALES España Sistemas
• Theodoros DIONYSOPOULOS
  Director / Hybrid Energy Systems
  INTRACOM DEFENSE

Research, Innovation & Collaboration Perspectiveconnecting operational needs with research, collaborative innovation, industrial capabilities and European and EDA collaborative programmes and projects.

• Matej GAJZER
  Managing Director TECES / Slovenian Energy and Environment Partnership in Defence (SiEnE) President