Date: March 11, 2026
Time: 16.00 – 19.00
Venue: Edge Olympic, Fred. Roeskestraat 115, 1076 EE Amsterdam
On 11 March 2026, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce hosted a fully booked Tech Table: Innovation for Strategic Autonomy, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how Europe can strengthen its security and sovereignty through innovation. As geopolitical tensions rise and global dependencies become increasingly visible, the discussion focused on how the defence sector can evolve from traditional, closed systems toward more collaborative innovation ecosystems.
The session opened with Pieter Paul van Oerle, who introduced the theme of ecosystem thinking in innovation. Drawing on examples from airport innovation ecosystems, he emphasised that effective innovation rarely happens in isolation. Instead, it requires deliberate orchestration between governments, companies, suppliers, and knowledge institutions.
Hessel van Oorschot, working across several European governments, provided a broader strategic perspective in his talk “Orchestrating the System – What’s Beyond the Triple Helix.” He highlighted that while Europe does not lack innovation, it often lacks the structures and coordination needed to scale it. Strategic autonomy, he argued, ultimately means the ability to act independently when it matters most. This requires not only ideas but also the capacity to build, deploy, and scale technologies domestically. Public procurement and long-term collaboration between government, industry, and research institutions therefore play a critical role in transforming innovation into operational capability.
Mirjam Ros, drawing on more than two decades of experience in high-tech industries, addressed the question of how innovation can be accelerated within the defence ecosystem. She described how rapid technological development and the rise of start-ups are disrupting traditional defence supply chains. To respond effectively, organisations must rethink roles within the ecosystem and adopt innovation-driven procurement approaches. Ros emphasised the importance of early alignment between innovators, integrators, and end-users, particularly around intellectual property and long-term roadmaps. She also highlighted the need for organisations to continuously learn, unlearn, and relearn in order to keep pace with technological change.
Robin Hughes of Saab focused on “Readiness and Ecosystem Integration.” Reflecting on Sweden’s long tradition of defence innovation, he described how collaboration between government, academia, and industry has historically enabled the country to maintain strong sovereign capabilities. Today, Saab actively works to connect start-ups, research institutes, and science parks to accelerate innovation. Hughes stressed that trust and operational readiness are central to this process: strong industrial relationships must be built before crises occur. He also pointed to the rapid pace of innovation seen in Ukraine as an example of how urgency can accelerate development and deployment.
During the panel discussion, which also included Mireille van der Meij, the conversation broadened to the role of sustainability and resilience within innovation ecosystems. Sustainability was framed not only as an environmental objective but also as a driver of resilience – particularly in areas such as energy systems and supply chain security.
The discussion also addressed the evolving nature of warfare and defence technology. Speakers noted the growing importance of hybrid and asymmetric threats, the rise of drones and emerging technologies, and the need for defence organisations to balance high-end capabilities with scalable and adaptable solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Functional Specifications Over Technical Ones
Mirjam Ros emphasised the importance of defining innovation challenges with functional specifications rather than technical ones. This approach fosters creativity and allows innovators to propose solutions that may not have been considered otherwise. For example, instead of prescribing a helicopter with specific technical features, the MOD could define a mobility solution with performance-based requirements (e.g., speed, payload, emissions).
- The Role of Procurement in Driving Innovation
Public procurement emerged as a critical lever for driving innovation and sovereignty. Hessel argued that procurement is not just an administrative function but a strategic tool that determines what gets built, deployed, and scaled. Robin Hughes and Mirjam Ros both highlighted the need for faster, more flexible procurement processes to accelerate innovation, particularly in defense.
- Curiosity, Risk-Taking, and Fast Failure
Mirjam Ros encouraged attendees to embrace curiosity, take risks, and fail fast. She emphasised the importance of asking ecosystem partners, “What do you need, and how can I support you?” to foster stronger collaborations. This mindset is essential for navigating the dynamic, interconnected nature of ecosystems, where roles and responsibilities are less rigid than in traditional supply chains.
- Aligning Collective and Individual Interests
Ecosystems require a balance between collective and individual interests. Unlike supply chains, where roles are clearly defined, ecosystems involve diverse stakeholders with varying goals. Mirjam Ros and Pieter Paul van Oerle both stressed the importance of aligning these interests to achieve shared outcomes, such as innovation and resilience.
- Sovereignty Requires Build, Deploy, and Decide
Hessel’s framework for sovereignty—build, deploy, and decide—provides a roadmap for societies to achieve independence and resilience. Building production capacity, deploying technology at scale, and making strategic decisions are essential for addressing dependencies and vulnerabilities.
- Long-Term Collaboration and Trust
Pieter Paul van Oerle and Hessel both emphasised the importance of long-term collaboration and trust in ecosystem development. Ecosystems do not emerge organically; they must be deliberately shaped, mapped, and orchestrated over time. Trust-based partnerships between government, industry, and knowledge institutions are critical for building production capacity and supply chains.
The event concluded with a clear message: Europe’s strategic autonomy will depend on its ability to connect innovation, industry, and government more effectively. Building resilient ecosystems, enabling faster procurement and experimentation, and strengthening trusted partnerships will be essential to ensure that innovation can move quickly from concept to operational capability.
The session closed with networking drinks and Swedish snacks, offering participants the opportunity to continue the conversation and explore new collaborations within the European defence innovation ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the Swedish Chamber will continue this conversation on May 13, 2026, Building Ecosystems for Impact. This action-oriented session will move beyond buzzwords and theory to explore how organisations across sectors and borders are building coalitions to address complex challenges. Through practical cases and open dialogue, participants will examine how ecosystem collaboration can translate ambition into tangible impact. Read more and sign up HERE.
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This event is delivered in partnership with nlmtd, an award-winning consultancy (top 5 in Organizational Advice in the MT1000 survey for five years running) specializing in ecosystem innovation. They will bring their most inspiring clients and real-world case studies, making this a insightful and memorable day.
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The Swedish Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all participants for contributing to the success of the Swedish Chamber Patron Dinner on November 22, 2016. We cordially thank H.E. Ambassador of Sweden and Honorary Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Mr. Per Holmström for hosting the Patron Dinner 2016 and Mr. Jeroen van der Veer, ING Keynote speaker and Honorary Guest, for sharing his experiences and introducing the Round Table discussions.
