Roundtable Innovation in Defence - How can our security and defence forces be ready?

Montag, 03.06.2019 – Montag, 03.06.2019

H.E. Urs Bucher, Ambassador of Switzerland to the EU, invites you to join a roundtable on Innovation in Defence 

How can our security and defence forces be ready?

National and Multinational Opportunities and Challenges 

on Monday 3rd June 2019 at 17:30 at EFTA, Josef II – straat 12/16, 1000 Brussels. 

Innovation should be at the top of the defence agenda. Significant changes have taken place not only in the national and international security context, from cold war military postures to a much more complex and less predictable security situation. The sophistication of operations has also dramatically increased, and emerging technologies are enabling new ways of conducting military operations at an accelerating speed. 

At the same time, the historically evolved complexity of defence organizations is hampering the ability of armed forces to effectively respond to these challenges in a timely manner. The answer can no longer be the adjustment of individual bits and pieces. Armed forces must increasingly develop and incorporate the ability to innovate. Beyond transformation, this means embracing inevitable change and leveraging the full potential of doing things differently. Only then will armed forces be able to master the new paradigm of defence and the ongoing changes in the security context. 

How will nations and international organizations assist our security and defence forces? What are the challenges of a Transatlantic / European approach? How should leading research institutes be integrated? With testimonies from representatives of NATO, European Defence Agency and armasuisse S+T, this roundtable gives the floor to security and defence sector experts.

 

Programme

17:00

Registration

@ EFTA

Josef II – straat 12/16, 1000 Brussels

17:30

Welcome address

Urs Bucher, Ambassador of Switzerland to the EU

17:35

 

Innovation – How to bring “it” to the security/defence forces

Dr. Thomas Rothacher
(Director S+T armasuisse)

17.45

 

NATO’s approach on innovation

Gordon B. Davis Jr.
(Dep ASG NATO DI)

17:55

 

European Defence Research and Innovation

Jean-François Ripoche
(Director Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) – EDA)

18:05

 

Innovation Policy Needs Policy Innovation
Dr. Thomas H. Killion

(NATO Chief Scientist)

18:20

Round Table

Dr. Thomas H. Killion (NATO Chief Scientist)

Gordon B. Davis Jr. (Dep ASG NATO DI)

Jean-François Ripoche (Director RTI – EDA)

Dr. Thomas Rothacher (Director S+T – armasuisse)

Moderation:

Otto Bruun (Advisor on Innovation – SwissCore)

19:00

Q&A with the public
Wrap-Up

Otto Bruun (Advisor on Innovation – SwissCore)

 

19:15

Apéritif

 

 

Registration

Please register asap to brm.events@eda.admin.ch by 30.5.2019.

Seats are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

This invitation is addressed to you and members of your organization.

Ort: at EFTA, Josef II – straat 12/16, 1000 Brussels.