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The EU AI Champions Initiative, directed by Nikolaus Pelinka, aims to consolidate AI capabilities across Europe's economy, including the defense sector, with over 140 participating companies and startups. This initiative responds to geopolitical tensions and emphasizes the importance of retaining technological value creation within Europe.

In defense, collaborations like that of German startup Helsing and French developer Mistral focus on military applications, while established firms such as Rheinmetall and MBDA leverage digital technologies to enhance procurement processes. A new wave of defense startups is emerging to address technological gaps and reduce dependency on external partners.