Given the size of DSEI, it can be challenging to discover cutting-edge SMEs working in the areas which are relevant to you. In response to this need, the 2023 show featured a series of discovery trails that highlighted international SMEs working on DISruptive TEChnology – DisTec. The DisTec Trails guided visitors around the exhibition according to their areas of interest.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), which finds and funds innovative ideas for the benefit of national security, has consistently found that:

"at least 50% of the scientific and technical ideas which [DASA] assesses to be desirable, feasible and viable come from SMEs"

SMEs bring a unique customer focus and agility that adds value throughout the defence supply chain.