„Marketplace of ideas and concepts“

After the extremely successful premiere a year ago, champagne corks popped in Düsseldorf. And rightly so. Shortly thereafter, attention turned to March 24, 2026, and the opening of the second XPONENTIAL Europe. In an interview with the Drones editorial team, Director Malte Seifert reveals what visitors can look forward to over three action-packed days, the influence of world politics on his work, and why he and his team still consider themselves at the very beginning of their development.

Drones: „We are still at the beginning of our development.” You told us this prior to the first XPONENTIAL Europe. Since then, twelve months have passed, and you can boast both an impressive premiere and a completely booked venue weeks before the second edition. Do you still feel like you’re at the beginning?

Malte Seifert: Honestly? Yes.

But you and your team have taken a few steps forward since then with „your show“, right?

Of course. When we announced in May 2023 at XPONENTIAL in Denver that we would host XPONENTIAL Europe in Düsseldorf starting in 2025, we couldn’t have assumed that, just two years later, we would be the undisputed leading trade show for autonomy and robotics in Europe. However, we clearly recognized the need for such a convention format with an exhibition, conferences, and networking events here in Europe.

The timing couldn’t have been better. Although overall economic conditions remain challenging, especially regarding the military use of unmanned systems, interest in politics, business, and media is hard to beat.

One can never precisely predict how a novel technology will develop. And when you talk to exhibitors, you hear that attention alone is not everything. For good ideas and innovative products to become sustainably successful ventures, more is needed. For example, a suitable investment and funding landscape, stable supply chains, and practical legal frameworks, not to mention actionable regulations.

Already several weeks before the trade fair, all spots in the exhibition hall were filled, and additional interested parties were placed on a waiting list

And how can you, as a trade fair organizer, be helpful in this regard?

By creating a platform that brings people and industries together. This has essentially always been the essence of markets and fairs. Of course, trading takes place there, and business is done. But perhaps even more important is the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and push things forward together. Together with our partners, we create a marketplace of ideas and concepts intended to have a lasting impact beyond the three days of the show. Therefore, we are in close communication with our two co-hosts, AUVSI and UAV DACH, to capture the needs of the international drone economy and to collaboratively provide targeted impulses for the benefit of the entire UxS industry.

With Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder a top German politician has taken on the patronage of the fair, and other high-ranking guests and delegations from across Europe and beyond have announced their attendance. Does this make you personally proud?

„Proud“ would be the wrong word. But I would be lying if I tried to brush it off professionally as „business as usual“. However, this is not a personal accolade for me, but a sign that we, as a team, have built something very relevant here in a short time. Overall, the strong interest from high-ranking representatives across politics, the military, and industry shows that XPONENTIAL Europe is perceived as the significant platform it is.

Compared to the first XPONENTIAL Europe, military and security topics have taken on much greater importance this year. With the Defense Forum, there is a dedicated conference on the subject, and the Bundeswehr has now become your strategic partner. Why did you feel the need to sharpen the profile of the show in this area?

At a time when security and defense are central themes in European politics and industry, it is only logical to include this area as a key focus in our portfolio. This also aligns with the expectations of many companies in the sector. Furthermore, last year, more than 40 percent of visitors indicated a particular interest in security, surveillance, inspection, and disaster relief. It is, therefore, only natural that defense technology is not only present but a core theme of XPONENTIAL Europe. With the German Armed Forces as a strategic partner, we can also provide important impetus in this area. For example, with the one-day German Drone-Defence & Innovation Forum. This forum is largely organized by Admiral Christian Bock and his team from the newly opened Innovation Center of the German Armed Forces in Erding, allowing supply and demand to interact directly in Düsseldorf.

Experiencing technologies firsthand and sharing information with one another is one of the essential elements of the XPONENTIAL Europe concept

Currently, the public debate is shaped by security and defense issues, as well as by strained transatlantic relations and the need to avoid structural dependencies on China in strategically important technologies. To what extent does the „political climate“ also influence an event like XPONENTIAL Europe?

On the one hand, we are an industrial trade show and not the UN General Assembly. Therefore, one should not overestimate the direct interactions with the topics discussed. However, we are aware that the significance of autonomy and robotics is recognized worldwide across the military, economic, and social spheres. We want to contribute to our platform to ensure that the drone economy in Europe can actually fulfill the great hopes placed on it.

Another frequently discussed topic is the detection and defense against illegally deployed drones.

This is essentially a prime example of why a trade show like ours is so valuable. Protecting against misuse of systems is a task that no one can tackle alone. Technologies, structures, and processes need to be established and continuously reviewed. This can only succeed if all stakeholders are aware of each other and in regular communication – from innovative startups to the European Commission. This task will accompany us for as long as unmanned systems are used.

In terms of IT and data security, there is a constant cat-and-mouse game. Beyond defense technologies, this is the second area that will be even more in focus in 2026 than at last year’s show premiere.

That’s absolutely correct. Cyber resilience is, of course, a central theme of XPONENTIAL Europe. Because autonomous systems – regardless of whether they fly, drive, or swim – must be optimally protected against attacks to prevent damage and misdirection. If we succeed in this, society can fully benefit from the enormous possibilities that unmanned systems offer. Just think about public transportation: widely operating autonomous shuttle buses, for example, can not only improve services in rural areas and relieve congested city centers, but also reduce individual traffic, which helps us in the fight against climate change.

Speaking of autonomous shuttles, last year at the fair, teleoperated minibuses were showcased in action. Will there be something similar in 2026?

Autonomous systems and robotics are not science fiction; the technology exists and works. We want to make this visible and tangible, which is why we’ve gone even further with our live demonstrations. Various unmanned ground vehicles will be on display in action. Around the exhibition hall, we’ll show how teleoperated shuttle vehicles from Rheinmetall subsidiary MIRA could be used in an industrial context. On the Rhine, the autonomous research vessel NOVA will be on display. And together with our co-host, UAV DACH, we’ll demonstrate how flying drones can be integrated into controlled airspace in the heart of a major German city, right next to a commercial airport. Last but not least, everyone can look forward to a spectacular live hacking demonstration on a fully automated Tesla.

The UAV DACH is integrated as a co-host into the trade fair activities

It almost sounds like the program is now complete. What else might come in the future?

We have had a fully booked hall for weeks now, and we are still receiving inquiries from interested companies asking whether any space remains for a booth. Therefore, we will certainly try to maintain this momentum and take the next steps for growth starting in 2027. Just like with defense and cybersecurity, we will continue to listen to the market, together with our partners, to reflect upcoming trends and cover relevant topics. Even though we are more than satisfied with our progress in the second year of the show, as I mentioned earlier, we are still just at the beginning.

Photos: Messe Düsseldorf / ctillmann

Disclosure: Drones magazine is a media partner to XPONENTIAL Europe