The Research Institute for Advanced Innovation and GeoStrategy (RAIS)
Event Reports
The Second Overseas Defense Startup Ecosystem Survey
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On July 23, 2026, the Research Institute for Advanced Innovation and GeoStrategy (RAIS) held the second Global Defense Start-up Ecosystem Survey as part of the RAIS Program.
For this session, RAIS was honored to welcome Ms. Bettina Weber, Director of Business Development and Sales at 21Strategies, a pioneering German AI defense startup. Ms. Weber delivered a lecture titled “Germany’s Defense Innovation Ecosystem: Transformation, Startups, and Lessons for Japan,” which addressed the transformation of Germany’s defense innovation ecosystem and the latest developments in AI adoption within software- and AI-driven defense, guided by the concept of “Human in the Loop,” under which final decisions remain with humans.
This was followed by a discussion between Ms. Weber and the participating companies which covered a wide range of topics related to future collaboration. These included possible approaches to Japan–Germany cooperation and a reassessment of the value of human judgment and decision-making processes amid the growing role of AI in defense.
(from left to right)
Mr. David Germroth, Senior Advisor, DSG Global Solutions
Ms. Bettina Weber, Director Business Development & Sales, 21Strategies
Prof. Tomoyuki Furutani, Co-Director of RAIS
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