Startups across Europe offer a patriotic purpose as Silicon Valley loses its grip on top AI minds

Europe’s defence technology sector is undergoing a quiet revolution, as artificial intelligence talent flocks to military-focused startups not for financial gain — but for a sense of mission.

In a marked shift from the West Coast’s lucrative tech ecosystem, a growing number of highly skilled engineers, machine learning researchers and data scientists are turning their backs on Silicon Valley stock options in favour of smaller, often state-backed, European ventures working on national security.

This wave of recruitment is being driven not by salaries — which remain modest by big tech standards — but by a desire to apply artificial intelligence to what many of these professionals describe as “meaningful” or “urgent” problems. From drone intelligence to autonomous threat detection and real-time battlefield analysis, AI is increasingly seen as central to modern military capability — and the next frontier of geopolitical power.

“We’re building systems that actually matter,” said Dr Clara Jung, a machine vision specialist now working with Helsing, a Berlin-based defence AI firm backed by high-profile investors and governments across Europe. “There’s a growing realisation that if people like us don’t help build this technology responsibly, someone else will — possibly without the same ethical framework.”

A New Kind of Appeal

While salaries at defence startups typically trail behind those offered by the likes of Google DeepMind or Meta’s AI research divisions, these companies are attracting candidates with the promise of real-world impact — and a geopolitical context that is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.

Russia’s war in Ukraine, combined with rising tensions with China and concerns over digital infrastructure vulnerability, have brought national security to the forefront of public discourse. In response, European capitals — long sceptical of overt military industrial investment — are now funnelling money and strategic support into AI-driven defence innovation.

Startups like Helsing, Preligens (France), and Anduril’s new European branches are working on advanced surveillance, cyberdefence and battlefield data processing — often in close collaboration with defence ministries and NATO. At the same time, governments have started offering incentives to recruit AI talent into national programmes, echoing a broader trend towards “technology sovereignty” in the face of increasingly fragmented global supply chains.

“We’re seeing a shift in what motivates elite AI researchers,” said Tomás Ricci, a recruiter for several defence-focused startups in the UK and Italy. “It’s no longer just about building the next ad targeting algorithm. People want to work on problems that defend democracies, that matter to society.”

There is, however, an ethical tightrope to walk. While proponents argue that democratic nations must lead in the responsible development of AI in defence to avoid authoritarian misuse, critics worry about normalising autonomous weapons systems and further entrenching military AI capabilities.

The companies themselves appear acutely aware of the reputational tightrope. Many operate with public “ethical charters” and strict internal codes about how and where their technology can be deployed. “It’s not about building killer robots,” said a spokesperson for Helsing. “It’s about using AI to improve decision-making, reduce civilian casualties, and defend open societies.”

That message seems to be resonating — particularly among younger engineers who grew disillusioned during the pandemic with the profit-first ethos of Big Tech. A recent survey by the European Institute for AI and Ethics found that 42 per cent of AI graduate students would consider working for a defence-focused company “if the mission aligns with democratic values.”

The UK, which has long championed a strong defence-industrial base, sees the AI influx as a strategic opportunity. The Ministry of Defence recently unveiled a £600 million fund for dual-use technologies, with a focus on attracting homegrown AI talent.

“AI is the defining technology of our generation, and it will play a critical role in our security,” said Defence Secretary John Healey. “Britain must lead in this space — not just to protect ourselves, but to ensure these technologies are shaped by our values.”

Some believe this could be the beginning of a broader rebalancing in Europe’s tech economy — one that prioritises resilience and sovereignty over hyper-scaled consumer apps and social media giants.

“This is not about glorifying war,” said Dr Jung. “It’s about acknowledging the reality of the world we live in, and deciding how we want technology to serve and protect our values — before it’s too late.”