Research directors of the Defence Procurement Groups meet for DACH talks in Zurich
Bern, 30.10.2025 — On 29 and 30 October, the research directors of the Defence Procurement Groups from Germany, Austria and Switzerland met at armasuisse in Zurich. The focus was on research projects, innovation, robotics, drones and their defence. The host was armasuisse Science and Technology under the direction of Thomas Rothacher.
At this year’s DACH meeting, the research directors exchanged views on the current developments and presented projects from their countries – focusing on innovation, robotics, drones and their defence. The exchange has been taking place for several years and promotes joint research projects as well as knowledge transfer. armasuisse Science and Technology (S+T) focuses on practical developments for military challenges – including those in the DDPS innovation spaces specially created for this purpose. Here, new technologies are systematically tested and developed.
The delegation also visited the robotics and drone laboratories of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ). DDPS and ETHZ want to further intensify cooperation – in particular in robotics, drone research and cyber defence.
The Taskforce Drones, founded in 2024, was also presented. This is based on an initiative of the DDPS and is under the direction of armasuisse S+T. Together with industry and research, it aims to set up a Swiss drone ecosystem – to reduce dependency on foreign countries.
The Swiss delegation was led by Dr Thomas Rothacher, Head of armasuisse S+T und Deputy National Armaments Director. The next DACH meeting of the research directors will take place in autumn 2026 in Austria.