Discover Leading Defense Technology Solutions
Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliersDEFCROS is a rapidly growing public safety and defense expo set to take place on September 11–12, 2025, in Osijek, Croatia. The event brings together global experts and leaders to shape the future of security through cutting-edge solutions and meaningful collaboration across law enforcement, private security, and military sectors.
DEFCROS Founder Kristijan Ilovača.
The 2024 edition drew over 10,000 visitors and 150 high-ranking military, police, and government officials from 15 countries, and featured 30 bilateral meetings and conferences. For 2025, DEFCROS is building on that success by accelerating its push toward becoming a fully international event, aiming for a balanced mix of domestic and global exhibitors.
In this exclusive Q&A, DEFCROS Founder Kristijan Ilovača speaks with Defense Advancement about the expo’s evolution, the key themes for 2025, and how the event is empowering SMEs and advancing defense innovation.
What is DEFCROS about and what sets it apart from other defense and security exhibitions in Europe?
DEFCROS is a public safety and defense expo held in Osijek, Croatia. It aims to create a focused platform where security and defense professionals can network, collaborate, and innovate. DEFCROS bridges the gap between the private sector and government institutions, fostering partnerships and opening doors to new markets.
What sets it apart:
- Strategic Location: Croatia’s location in Southern Europe, combined with its NATO and EU membership, makes DEFCROS a gateway for companies looking to expand into new markets in the region. Its position bridges the gap between East and West, offering access to diverse markets.
- Networking Hub: DEFCROS is more than just an expo; it’s a dedicated networking hub where lasting partnerships and deals are forged. Unlike larger, more impersonal events, DEFCROS offers a more intimate environment, allowing for higher-quality interactions and the opportunity to cultivate deeper relationships with key players. This focused approach ensures exhibitors and attendees have more dedicated time to engage with partners and potential collaborators.
- Government Support: DEFCROS has the continued support of the Croatian Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, and other national and local institutions. This strong local backing provides credibility and facilitates connections with relevant government entities.
- Focused Engagement: As a smaller expo, DEFCROS allows for more personalized attention to be given to partners and potential collaborators. This focused engagement can lead to more meaningful connections and business opportunities compared to larger, more overwhelming events.
Kristijan Ilovača and the Croatian Minster of Defense, Ivan Anusic, at DEFCROS 2024.
How does DEFCROS foster innovation in the defense sector, especially for startups and SMEs developing cutting-edge technologies?
DEFCROS plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation within the defense sector, particularly for startups and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) developing cutting-edge technologies, by cultivating an ecosystem where groundbreaking ideas can flourish. It provides a dynamic platform for exposure, allowing these emerging companies to showcase their advanced solutions directly to a highly targeted audience of industry leaders, military officials, and decision-makers from both, the private and public sectors. This visibility is invaluable for resource-constrained startups and SMEs, offering them a rare opportunity to stand toe-to-toe with established players and capture the attention of potential investors or clients.
Beyond mere display, DEFCROS facilitates meaningful collaboration by bridging the gap between private innovators and government institutions, such as the Croatian Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior. This connection helps startups overcome common barriers like limited networks or funding, fostering partnerships that can lead to joint ventures and pilot projects.
How has DEFCROS evolved since its inception, and what are your main goals for this year?
DEFCROS made a significant entrance onto the scene in 2024 proving to be a resounding success by attracting over 10,000 visitors and establishing itself as a key meeting point for the regional defense and security community. Building upon this strong foundation, DEFCROS is now focused on strategic growth and enhanced impact.
Goals for DEFCROS 2 are ambitious and forward-looking. DEFCROS 2 is envisioned to be significantly larger in scope, attracting a greater number of exhibitors and attendees, and generating a more substantial impact on the regional and international defense and security landscape. This includes expanding the exhibition space, increasing the number of participating countries, and facilitating more high-level discussions and partnerships.
A core objective is to transform DEFCROS into a premier international event, attracting a balanced mix of domestic and international exhibitors and attendees. This involves targeted outreach to key international stakeholders, showcasing Croatia’s strategic importance, and creating a platform for global collaboration.
The ultimate goal is to establish DEFCROS as the “must-attend” event for public safety and defense companies, government institutions, and related organizations worldwide. This means curating a high-value experience that delivers unparalleled networking opportunities, cutting-edge insights, and tangible business outcomes. We are committed to creating an event that is not only informative and engaging but also essential for anyone seeking to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving defense and security sector. This will be achieved through carefully selected speakers, relevant and timely panel discussions, and dedicated spaces for collaboration and deal-making.
What are the key themes and focus areas for DEFCROS 2?
DEFCROS 2 will emphasize key sectors starting with weapons and ammunition, followed by land, aerial, and marine vehicles, and their subassemblies. It will also cover infrastructure protection, logistics, demining, emergency health, advanced manufacturing, detection, communication, cybersecurity, AI vision systems plus personnel equipment, private security, disaster resilience, and support services.
What platforms, technologies, or solutions will be showcased at DEFCROS 2, and are there plans for demonstrations or live showcases?
While the exact platforms, technologies, and solutions to be showcased at DEFCROS 2 remain under wraps for now, attendees can anticipate an impressive lineup spanning the event’s diverse focus areas. As for demonstrations or live showcases, details are still forthcoming, but given DEFCROS’s hands-on, engagement-driven approach, it’s safe to expect some exciting interactive displays to steal the spotlight – keep an eye out for updates as the event draws closer.
Who should attend DEFCROS 2, and what benefits can they expect?
Example of innovations on display at DEFCROS.
DEFCROS 2 welcomes a broad spectrum of attendees, including security and defense professionals, high-ranking officials, military specialists, government and delegation representatives, police and military personnel, cybersecurity and technology innovators, decision-makers, industry leaders, and companies in military tech, arms manufacturing, police equipment, or public safety solutions. It’s also open to virtually anyone in the broader security ecosystem -think banking, logistics, healthcare, transportation, and beyond—since nearly every sector relies on robust security measures, with a business visitor accreditation making it accessible to all these fields.
Attendees can look forward to networking with influential figures from peers to policymakers, gaining market access into Eastern Europe’s thriving defense and safety sectors, showcasing cutting-edge innovations to an engaged audience, sharing insights in discussions shaping the future of defense and public safety, and boosting visibility through extensive media coverage and industry attention.
