Geopolitical conflicts, increasing threat scenarios and growing demands for the protection of society and critical infrastructure are fundamentally reshaping Europe’s security landscape. Against this backdrop, Magirus, together with the international business club GPF Global and in cooperation with SEEBDN (Southeast Europe Business Development Network), hosted an exclusive evening on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, at the Ernst Fuchs Museum in the Otto Wagner Villa in Vienna under the theme “Security Creates Value”.
The event brought together senior figures from politics, industry and defence to address a central question: how can security be shaped collectively as a responsibility shared by society as a whole?
Fireside chat with Federal Minister Tanner: security requires a change in mindset
A central highlight of the evening was a fireside chat with Austria’s Federal Minister of Defence, Klaudia Tanner. She emphasised that the evolving security environment requires a fundamental shift in thinking – both in defence policy and across society. Security, she stressed, is not a task that individual actors can address alone.
“A neutral state must be able to defend its neutrality,” said Minister Tanner. “Strengthening security in Europe sustainably requires a joint effort from business, industry, politics and society.”
A turning point: taking responsibility before it is too late
The subsequent panel discussion, titled “A Turning Point for Industry: Security as a Driver of Innovation and Growth”, featured Lieutenant General Harald Vodosek, National Armaments Director of the Austrian Armed Forces at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Peter Koren, Vice Secretary General of the Federation of Austrian Industries, and Fatmir Veselaj, CEO of Magirus.
Veselaj highlighted Magirus’ priorities: “In critical situations, every second counts. That is why everything we develop and produce must focus on the end user – the emergency personnel who rely on our technology in every situation.” At the same time, he underlined the responsibility of industry: “We must not wait for political direction. We need to act now and develop solutions that perform when it matters most.”
He also formulated a clear ambition for both Magirus and the wider industry: “Protection must not become a luxury. Our responsibility is to deliver the highest quality at a fair price.”
Magirus strengthens its Defense & Security business
With the establishment of the Magirus Defense & Security business unit at its Radfeld site, Magirus has successfully completed the acquisition of Achleitner Fahrzeugbau and is now active as a provider of specialised solutions for armed forces, security agencies and operators of critical infrastructure.
The company is thereby positioning itself as an integrated systems provider across the full spectrum of civil protection – from firefighting and disaster response to tactical solutions for protection, mobility and operational capability under the most demanding conditions. The event in Vienna underscored the consistency with which Magirus is pursuing this strategic direction.
For CEO Fatmir Veselaj, dialogue with stakeholders from politics, industry and society is a key element of corporate responsibility. The event in Vienna demonstrated that the pressing challenges of security can only be addressed and managed through collaboration between all actors.
Security is not created in isolation. It emerges where responsibility is shared – for society, and for those who protect it every day.
