Archangel
How do we create a UK defence ecosystem where innovation can go from concept to the frontline at a wartime pace? This opening panel discussion will bring together a diverse group of senior MoD officials, leading defence tech companies, and investors to tackle this question in detail, framed against UKDI’s recently announced 5 innovation themes guiding their work to accelerate frontline capabilities and drive national growth.
Embassy of Ukraine in the UK
UK MoD
Kraken Technology Group
The D Group (Moderator)
Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have shown the degree to which warfare has changed, both from the use of technology as well as leveraging economic and political pressure points. How is technology playing a role in this trend, and what does it mean for the future of power conflict?
How should we be thinking about our defence capabilities for a future where the physical theatre of war looks radically different due to climate change?
PUBLIC (Moderator)
StagOn Defence
NATO Innovation Fund
Arbuthnot Latham
Vizgard
In the context of the Defence Investment Plan, how can private investors and industry respond to make the most of its demand signals and where do they need further clarity from MoD to make good on its aims? This discussion will bring together a diverse set of investors from the UK and Europe to discuss what different players must do to make UK defence investable long-term.
Second Front Systems
Given the dual facts of rapid AI advancement and a turbulent global threat landscape, does the UK have an imperative to invest in sovereign AI capabilities? And if so, what would a serious sovereign defence plan look like?
Cosine
PUBLIC (Moderator)
Skua Defence
As grey zone and hybrid threats continue to test the limits of democratic stability, safeguarding societal vulnerabilities increasingly demands a whole-of-society approach. How can nations operationalise this resilience in the context of strained budgets? And what lessons can be learned from industry, government, and civil society to ensure success?
Milkwood Group
Applied Resilience
Solita
Patria
PUBLIC (Moderator)
James Gavin (Deputy Director, UKDI) will close the day highlighting UKDI’s innovation priorities before opening up to the audience for a collaboration Q&A discussion.
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