Europe is experiencing a structural reorientation of its security and industrial landscape. Defence and security are no longer peripheral policy areas. They are increasingly intertwined with competitiveness, infrastructure, technological capability, and sovereignty.

For industrial companies, this shift creates both strategic relevance and institutional tension. Engagement is expanding beyond traditional defence contractors into sectors such as advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, energy systems, logistics, and data-driven technologies. Yet corporate positioning remains uneven.

To better understand this transition, V_labs gathered executive perspectives from across European industry. The findings reveal a landscape marked by rising strategic attention, cautious evaluation, and differing levels of structural commitment.

This report explores:

• How corporate engagement has evolved since 2022
• Where organizations stand between reassessment and execution
• Which governance and institutional barriers shape decision-making
• Why a gap persists between external momentum and internal alignment

For executives and decision-makers, the report provides structured insight into how European industry is navigating this strategic shift. It also outlines the key governance, positioning, and mandate questions that shape whether strategic attention translates into institutional commitment.