Funchal is hosting the fifth edition of AuxDefense, the World Conference on Advanced Materials for Defence, this week. The event runs from Wednesday to Friday at the VidaMar Resort Hotel and gathers researchers, industry leaders, and academic institutions focused on defence technology. It is organised by the University of Minho, Fibrenamics, and Sciencentris, with support from the Ministry of National Defence. Speakers include representatives from The European Defence Agency, The Fraunhofer Institute, Airbus, The French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL), and ENSAIT – University of Lille. Fibrenamics is presenting research in Protection Systems, Biodefence, Smart Textiles, and Sensors and Composite Materials. Raúl Fangueiro said the conference is especially important at a time of rising geopolitical, technological, and security challenges, and described it as a meeting point for science, industry, and end users. He also said the event supports technological sovereignty and practical solutions for today’s security landscape, while AuxDefense continues to build on its international reputation since its launch in Lisbon in 2018.
