With UK defence investment in Scotland entering a transformative phase, the DPRTE Scottish Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit 2026 on 20 May in Glasgow arrives at a moment when insight, access, and timing could make the difference between watching from the sidelines and securing a place in one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors.
Officially supported by ADS Scotland, the Summit is built around four panel sessions, each addressing a critical dimension of the defence opportunity now facing Scottish industry.
The opening session, Economic Growth: Defence as an Engine for Scottish Prosperity, sets the strategic context for the day. With the £50 million Scotland Defence Growth Deal announced in March 2026 and an additional £2.2 billion in MOD spending from April, the panel will examine what the investment pipeline looks like for Scottish industry over the coming decade.
Senior voices from government, industry, and regional economic development will explore how defence can drive broad-based prosperity, not just in traditional strongholds but deeper into Scotland’s regions and SME base. Discussion will cover supply chain localisation, workforce development, and how successes in defence exports can be replicated and scaled across the country.
Prime Contractors: Opening Doors for Scottish SMEs brings the conversation into sharper practical focus, addressing the question SMEs most frequently ask: how do you get through the door? The panel will walk through onboarding pathways, accreditation and security requirements, and what prime contractors are looking for from supply chain partners. Real-world case studies of SMEs that have successfully secured contracts on major defence platforms will give attendees a clear picture of what is required, from first conversation to long-term partnership.
The third session, SME Engagement: Turning Policy into Contracts, translates the MOD’s £7.5 billion SME spending commitment into actionable guidance. Representatives from the Defence SME Hub and MOD Commercial will demystify the procurement process, explain how to find and bid for contracts through platforms such as Contracts Finder, and outline the support available to help smaller businesses navigate compliance and competitive bidding. The session will highlight where MOD and industry are actively seeking new capability, particularly in digital, advanced manufacturing, cyber, and rapid prototyping.
The final panel, Dual Use Technology and Emerging Domains: Space, Cyber & AI, addresses the technologies shaping the future of defence. Scotland’s commercial strengths in space systems, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and high-performance computing are increasingly relevant to national defence, yet the path from commercial product to defence deployment remains unfamiliar territory for many businesses. The session will cover compliance, security standards, and routes to market across multiple domains, while identifying where Scottish innovation has the strongest potential to contribute.
The Summit takes place on 20 May 2026 in Glasgow, click here to register.
