Europe’s Defence Startups Attract AI Talent Amid Geopolitical Tensions
European tech workers are increasingly joining defence startups closer to home, driven by patriotism stirred by the war in Ukraine and changing security alliances. The opportunity to work on cutting-edge battlefield applications using artificial intelligence (AI) is also a significant draw.
Reuters spoke to two dozen AI engineers, venture capital firms, government officials, and defence companies in Europe. They reported an influx of tech talent reflecting the changed political landscape as the United States redefines its role in European defence.
“There are people that are really mission-focused… they want to have an impact and not only earn a big salary,” said Loïc Mougeolle, CEO of Paris-based battlefield AI provider Comand AI. The company raised $10 million in December, while Germany’s Alpine Eagle, focusing on technology to counter autonomous drones, raised 10 million euros ($11.4 million) in March.
Comand AI has recruited engineers from U.S.-based ChatGPT maker OpenAI and data analytics provider Palantir Technologies. Alpine Eagle plans to hire across various departments as it expands outside Germany. “Europe, in terms of defence and public security, is a huge market,” said CEO Jan-Hendrik Boelens.
Salaries in Europe can be significantly lower than in the U.S. Glassdoor data shows Helsing – Europe’s only defence “unicorn” – pays up to $150,000 per year for an AI engineer, compared to $270,000 at Palantir or $380,000 at Google.
The war in Ukraine has reduced the stigma around working in defence for young engineers. “Young people started realizing freedom does not come for free,” said Stelios Koroneos, founder of Greek defence tech startup variene.ai.
Surge in Defence Startups
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, defence startups have surged. PitchBook data shows venture capital investment in European defence companies reached $626 million in 2024, up from $254 million in 2023 and $62 million in 2022. The European Union aims to mobilise 800 billion euros ($911 billion) for defence.
According to the Zeki State of AI Talent Report, European defence companies are targeting top engineers as firms shift focus from hardware to software. The number of top AI engineers in Europe’s defence sector grew to 1,700 in 2024 from 144 in 2014.
Investors and tech workers said unease with the current U.S. political environment is prompting Europeans to seek opportunities at home. “Many of the world’s top AI researchers come from Europe… they’re returning to work on European sovereignty,” said Jeannette zu Fürstenberg of General Catalyst.
More Than Financial Motivation
Benjamin Wolba co-founded the European Defense Tech Hub to connect tech founders, investors, and policymakers. Over 12 defence tech startups emerged from hackathons organised in 2024.
British university student Michael Rowley, 20, rejected accounting and traditional AI jobs to work on technology tracking troop movements. “To be able to contribute to the front lines and help protect democracy is an opportunity not many people get,” he said.
Marie Inuzuka, previously at OpenAI and Palantir, joined Comand AI as a product manager in December. “My grandparents lived through the atomic bomb, so defence has always been very close to my heart,” she said.
