De Cronos Groep launches ‘Cronos Defence’: Digital power for National Security
De Cronos Groep, one of the largest IT groups in the Benelux, is entering a new strategic market with the launch of Cronos Defence. Cronos Defence brings together the deep technological expertise within the group to address the growing demand for national resilience and digital sovereignty in Belgium and Europe.
Local anchoring with European impact
The current national and international security landscape is evolving rapidly. In a context marked by hybrid threats, technological leadership has become essential to guarantee security and operational autonomy. Continuous innovation and the ability to rapidly translate emerging technologies into operational capabilities are therefore crucial.
With Brussels serving as the headquarters of NATO and the European institutions, Belgium is at the heart of decision-making around defence innovation. Cronos Defence is being established to help build, from this strong local foundation, a safe and future-proof society.
Cronos Defence positions itself as a strategic digital partner for Defence and the broader security sector. The Cronos ecosystem brings together innovation capacity, agility and more than 9,000 experts in digital technologies.
“The current geopolitical context requires a strong and autonomous defence, in which information technologies play an increasingly central role,” says Dirk Deroost, co-founder of De Cronos Groep. “With more than 35 yearsof experience developing technological solutions for both the public and private sectors, we are a solid European partner. Thanks to our unique entrepreneurial model, we can respond swiftly and at scale to emerging technological challenges, including artificial intelligence, interoperability of European systems and cyberthreats.”
Broad technological offering
De Cronos Groep covers the full spectrum of digital expertise: infrastructure management, software development, cybersecurity, data platforms and operational support. The group has built a strong reputation in environments where reliability and security are critical, including public authorities, critical infrastructure (aviation, ports, railways) and European institutions.
The group also has targeted expertise in innovative technologies such as AI, data and geospatial technologies,which offer strong dual-use potential: civilian solutions that can also be adapted to defence contexts. Through dedicated innovation programmes, this expertise is brought together to address complex technological challenges in an integrated way.
In this context, Cronos Defence acts as a strategic IT enabler, with a strong focus on digital infrastructure and technological building blocks that support modern defence operations. All activities are carried out within a strict ethical and regulatory framework, in line with European standards.
The launch of Cronos Defence will be marked by its participation in BEDEX 2026 (12–14 March 2026), the new trade fair dedicated to the Belgian and European defence industry.
About Cronos Defence
Cronos Defence is the strategic partner within De Cronos Groep providing innovative digital solutions for Defence and the broader security sector. Through its strong local anchoring and European reach, Cronos Defence contributes to strengthening the digital resilience of Belgium and Europe.
About De Cronos Groep
Founded in Belgium in 1991, De Cronos Groep has grown into one of the largest independent technology and IT ecosystems in the country. Still entirely Belgian-owned, the organisation brings together more than 600 companies and nearly 9,000 employees, active throughout Europe. Today, the group supports more than 5,000 organisations across both the public and private sectors. De Cronos Groep acts as a strategic technology partner with extensive expertise across a broad range of digital domains, including artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, cybersecurity, software engineering and digital transformation. The strength of the group lies in its unique organisational structure, centred on entrepreneurship, innovation and technological excellence. Thanks to its extensive ecosystem, the group can quickly and flexibly mobilise specialised expertise and scale its capabilities according to each client’s needs.
Media contact
Leen Daems
