Federica Valente

Manager of the Hub for EU Defence Innovation at the European Defence Agency

Federica Valente is Manager of the Hub for EU Defence Innovation at the European Defence Agency, where she leads work to accelerate the uptake of emerging and disruptive technologies into European defence capabilities. Operating at the interface between Member States, EU institutions, military users, industry, start-ups and investors, she focuses on turning promising technologies into operationally relevant solutions through capability-driven innovation, experimentation and evidence-based transition pathways. 

She has played a central role in shaping EDA’s defence innovation agenda, including the development of HEDI as a European platform for technology scouting, operational experimentation, military utility assessment and rapid adoption.  

An aerospace engineer by background, trained across Italy, France and the Netherlands, Federica brings extensive experience in the defence domain. Before joining EDA, she worked at TNO in the Netherlands, supporting complex defence technology programmes and strategic partnerships with leading defence and aerospace actors. 

Federica is also active in Europe’s wider innovation community. She serves as a mentor in the EIC Women Leadership Programme and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the International School of Brussels. She was named among Sifted’s 100 Women in Tech in Europe 2025, reflecting her role in bringing defence innovation into Europe’s broader deep-tech and start-up ecosystem.