By NCT Consultants
On 6–7 May 2026, NCT Consultants brings the NCT Europe Conference & Exhibition to the Unmanned Valley in Valkenburg, The Netherlands—marking a groundbreaking evolution in the NCT event series. For the first time, the event will fully integrate conference sessions, technology demonstrations, and live hands-on CBRNE training enhanced with unmanned aerial and ground vehicles, all conducted on one of Europe’s most advanced drone testing facilities.
This new format unites the theoretical exchange and industry innovation of NCT Europe with the operational realism of NCT PRO eXperience, creating a seamless environment where military and civil response teams can train on complex CBRNE scenarios while conference attendees watch the operations unfold via live-stream into the expo area and conference room.
Conference Program: From Post-Conflict Threats to AI-Driven Response
The two-day conference addresses the most pressing challenges facing CBRNE and EOD professionals today. The program is structured around four core themes:
Day One opens with an Opening Plenary featuring Brigadier General Giorgio Guariglia (Commander, Italian Joint NBC Defense School), BG (R) William King (Booz Allen Hamilton), Mr Babatunde Olowookere (OPCW), and Col. Matthew Clark (SHAPE Healthcare Facilities). The day continues with two major sessions: “After the Fighting Stops: CBRNE Threats in Post-Conflict Environments”, exploring decontamination, mine action, and humanitarian response in Ukraine and other conflict zones, and “From First Exposure to Full Recovery: The Medical Frontline of CBRNE Incidents”, featuring speakers from the European Medicines Agency, HERA, SERB Pharmaceuticals, and Fabentech on medical countermeasures and emergency preparedness.
Day Two shifts to operational integration and emerging technologies. The session “One Threat, One Response: Integrating Civil and Military CBRNE Capabilities” brings together the JCBRN Defence Centre of Excellence, Belgian National Crisis Center, and Italian Joint NBC Defense School to address interoperability challenges. This is followed by “Smarter Than the Hazard: AI and Unmanned Systems on the CBRNE Front Line”, featuring the European Defence Agency’s C-IED Project Officer and experts on autonomous detection and post-blast analysis. The conference concludes with “Stronger Together: Building a Unified Hazard Shield through Joint Exercises”, emphasizing multinational training and knowledge-sharing frameworks led by the European Defence Agency and EUCOM.
The NCT PRO eXperience: Live Training with Unmanned Systems
What sets NCT Europe 2026 apart is the integration of live, scenario-based CBRNE training at the Unmanned Valley—a cutting-edge testing environment designed for drone operations. Over two days, military and civil response teams from across Europe and beyond will engage in complex exercises involving chemical release simulations, explosive threat containment, and coordinated decontamination operations, all enhanced by unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.
These trainings are made possible through PRO Sponsors—Kindeva, HEYL, SERB, North American Rescue, Airsense Analytics, Metrohm, and Rigaku—who provide advanced detection systems, medical countermeasures, decontamination equipment, and field analysis tools. Participating teams will integrate these technologies directly into mission scenarios, gaining hands-on experience with the systems shaping the future of CBRNE response.
The result is a truly immersive experience: as conference attendees network in the expo hall or attend sessions, they can watch live operations unfold on screens, bridging the gap between theoretical discussion and operational reality.
Why This Matters
NCT Europe 2026 represents a fundamental shift in how the CBRNE community learns, collaborates, and trains. By co-locating the conference, exhibition, and live training at the Unmanned Valley, the event creates an environment where innovation, policy, and practice converge in real time. Participants will leave not only with new knowledge and connections, but with firsthand exposure to the operational challenges—and solutions—that define CBRNE preparedness in 2026.
