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ABOUT

AED Days has established itself as the leading national platform for connecting the Portuguese Aeronautics, Space, and Defence ecosystem with key international players, fostering strategic dialogue on current and future sector challenges, and creating concrete opportunities for collaboration and business partnerships.

The 2026 edition will introduce a new event dynamic, with an enhanced three-day programme and a more integrated experience across conferences, networking moments and the exhibition area.  A key highlight is the launch of a new Exhibition Area of approximately 1000 m², designed to place participating companies at the heart of the event, maximising visibility and direct engagement with decision-makers and business opportunities.

The Defence Industry Forum is one of the new events on AED Days 2026, a full-day event dedicated exclusively to Defence, taking place on May 28th at the Estoril Conference Centre.

Organised by AED Cluster Portugal, in partnership with the Municipalities of Oeiras and Cascais, AED Days 2026 will once again bring together companies, policymakers, government bodies, research centres and international organisations, providing a privileged setting to strengthen positioning and develop new strategic partnerships.

HIGHLIGHTS & NUMBERS OF THE
LAST YEAR'S EDITION

  • Informal networking
  • Pre-arranged B2B meetings
  • Monitor new trends and developments
  • Interventions from High-Level EU Representatives
  • Active presence with speakers, procurement and support from all the Portuguese Military branches

  • Active presence with speakers, procurement and support from major oems, such as TAP, SAAB, Embraer, Leonardo, AIRBUS, Lockheed Martin, Lufthansa, BOEING and more…

REMEMBER AED DAYS 2025!

Watch the video and recap last year’s edition of this great event.

ORGANIZER

AED Cluster Portugal is the Portuguese Cluster for the Aeronautics, Space and Defence Industries and was created in 2016, as a private non-for-profit organization. In 2017, we received the label of “Strategic National Competitiveness Cluster” for Aeronautics, Space and Defence from the Portuguese Government.

Involving already more than 170 entities established in Portugal, the Cluster gathers the main stakeholders from the three sectors, being able to act as an entry point and a one-stop-shop in Portugal, for all national and international players.

AED Cluster Portugal strategic objectives lie within four main building blocks – Funding and Regulatory; People and Competences; Innovation and Value; Markets and Opportunities -, with a clear mission to promote the advancement and consolidation of Portugal as an international reference on the Aeronautics, Space and Defence global industries.

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MAIN PARTNER

Oeiras Valley is a program of the Municipality of Oeiras that aims to create a unique ecosystem for innovation and development in the municipality.

This program aims to transform Oeiras into the largest hotbed of innovation, creativity and technology in Portugal. 

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MAIN PARTNER

The Municipality of Cascais is internationally recognised for its strong commitment to innovation, sustainability and economic development, fostering a dynamic environment that attracts talent, investment and cutting-edge industries.

With a clear focus on technology, entrepreneurship and internationalisation, Cascais actively supports strategic sectors such as aeronautics, space and defence, positioning itself as a forward-looking municipality and a key partner in promoting high-value industrial and technological ecosystems.

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COUNTRY PARTNER

The Embassy of Canada to Portugal plays a central role in strengthening bilateral relations between Portugal and Canada, promoting political dialogue, economic cooperation and institutional partnerships across strategic sectors.

Through its active support of innovation, trade and international collaboration, the Embassy contributes to reinforcing Portugal’s presence in the Canadian market, while facilitating connections between public institutions, industry stakeholders and research communities in the fields of aeronautics, space and defence.

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AEROFUTURE FORUM PARTNER

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 340 airlines over 80% of global air traffic. They support many areas of aviation activity and help formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues.​ 

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SPACE² INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORTER

The Portuguese Space Agency has been implementing the National Space Strategy, Portugal Space 2030, since its creation in 2019. The results speak for themselves: significant advances in space access and return activities, micro-launchers, a growing number of satellites in orbit, and growing foreign direct investment in the sector. Fostering ecosystem activities across the full value chain, from upstream technology to downstream applications, from early-stage ventures to established industry, the Agency represents Portugal at ESA, the EU, EUSPA and ESO, working to turn that presence into concrete returns for Portuguese companies and institutions.

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