EIFO to tenfold financing of Danish defence industry by 2030

19 August 2026 | EIFO (Export & Investment Fund of Denmark)

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The Danish defence industry is experiencing significant growth, and new technologies such as drones, sensors and unmanned systems are becoming increasingly prominent. EIFO therefore intends to increase its total engagement in the defence industry from the current DKK 300 million to DKK 3 billion by 2030.

The need for new defence and security technologies has grown significantly in Europe in recent years. At the same time, EIFO is seeing increasing activity among Danish companies developing solutions in areas such as drones, autonomy, sensors and electronic warfare. EIFO is therefore now setting a target to tenfold its engagement in the defence industry by 2030 to DKK 3 billion.

“Europe is in the midst of the largest military build-up in generations, creating a historic window of opportunity for the Danish defence industry. That is why EIFO will significantly increase its financing of companies developing the technologies that are crucial to our security, supply resilience and technological sovereignty,” says Signe Thustrup Kreiner, Head of EIFO’s SME-focused activities.

The target will be achieved through both investments in new defence companies and venture funds, as well as through loans, guarantees and sureties for Danish small and medium-sized enterprises with specific production and scaling needs. As in all other cases where EIFO is involved, this will be done in collaboration with private investors, banks and other financial actors.

Drones and technologies related to the drone ecosystem are expected to account for a significant share of the growth. Already today, 26 percent of EIFO’s pipeline of defence-related SMEs is within the drone sector, while around 70 percent of the investments in the Ukrainian defence tech fund D3, in which EIFO has invested, are related to the drone ecosystem.

At the same time, 15 of the 26 companies in Defence Tech Denmark work with drone or counter-drone technology.

“Denmark already has strong capabilities in areas such as drones and unmanned systems. If we are to turn them into companies that can deliver technology to Denmark, our allies and international markets, access to capital is required across the entire value chain — from development to production and export. That is one of the developments we want to support,” says Signe Thustrup Kreiner.

EIFO has already invested in or contributed financing to a number of companies in the field, including Six Robotics, Acodyne, Dropla, Robotto and Saildrone, which has just opened its European bridgehead at Holmen in Copenhagen.

Most recently, EIFO invested alongside the European early-stage fund The Creator Fund in Triton Depth, which develops passive acoustic sensors for monitoring and protecting underwater environments and critical infrastructure. Triton Depth is part of Defence Tech Denmark, which EIFO also co-finances.

“We are approaching the task broadly. We are developing new financial solutions that make it easier for companies to raise capital and turn lessons from Ukraine into concrete products. At the same time, we invest directly and through funds, provide loans and export financing — meaning that support is available for companies from the early idea stage to international scaling,” says Henrik Holst Elstrøm, who together with Signe Thustrup Kreiner and EIFO’s defence-focused team is once again attending DALO Days this year.

Henrik Holst Elstrøm invites companies to stop by EIFO’s stand and discuss the opportunities:

“We want to meet companies where they are. Some need capital to develop new technology, others need to scale production or finance exports. Our role is to ensure that a lack of financing does not become the factor holding back the growth of the Danish defence industry.”

Stop by EIFO’s stand D 3200 to learn more about how EIFO’s financing solutions can support the development of Danish defence companies.

Press contact:

Jon Arskog
EIFO – Denmark’s Export and Investment Fund
M: +45 22 52 96 48 | E: joar@eifo.dk