Date: March 11, 2026
Time: 16.00 – 19.00
Venue: Edge Olympic, Fred. Roeskestraat 115, 1076 EE Amsterdam
FULLY BOOKED: Swedish Chamber Tech Table: Innovation for Strategic Autonomy
Europe’s security landscape is changing rapidly. As global power dynamics shift and traditional alliances come under pressure, Europe’s security and sovereignty are increasingly shaped by its ability to innovate and adopt new technologies. At the same time, the defense sector faces a fundamental question: how can rapid innovation be enabled while safeguarding security, compliance, and trust?
Innovation & Defense is a focused event exploring the role of innovation in strengthening European sovereignty and strategic autonomy. The session examines how the defense sector can expand beyond its current supply chain and work with the broader ecosystem and new technology partners to accelerate innovation. All, while maintaining the high standards of security, due diligence, and operational reliability that the sector requires.
Traditionally built on control and long development cycles, the defense industry is now confronted with the need for greater speed, experimentation, and openness. This event offers insight into how that can be achieved through new forms of collaboration and ecosystem-based approaches.
Program
16:00 Doors open
16:00-16:30 Registration and coffee
16:30-16:40 Welcome and introduction by Moderator Pieter Paul van Oerle
16:40-16:55 Hessel van Oorschot on Orchestrating the System (what’s beyond the Triple Helix)
16:55-17:10 Mirjam Ros on How to Innovate within the Defence Innovation Ecosystem
17:10-17:25 Robin Hughes on Readiness & Ecosystem Integration
17:25-18:00 Q&A and panel discussion
18:00-18.15 Event conclusion Pieter Paul van Oerle
18.15 Thank you by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce
18:15-19.00 Networking drinks & Swedish snacks
Key takeaways
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How defense can use new ecosystems — moving beyond silos toward coordinated collaboration across government, industry and knowledge institutions.
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Clarity on strategic autonomy in practice — how procurement, partnerships and contracting must evolve to enable speed and trust.
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Insight into readiness under pressure — why trusted industrial relationships must be built before a crisis to scale rapidly when it matters most.
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A reframed understanding of sustainability — energy resilience and supply chain security as foundations of long-term defense strength.
Read more about the speakers below.
Registration close on March 4, 2026.
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.
Recommended events
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.
