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The Singapore Defence Technology Summit (Tech Summit) is a unique gathering of global thought leaders from government, industry, academia, and think tanks, to network, confer, and collaborate in the development of defence and security capabilities.

Tech Summit 2025 will examine the roles of technology and partnerships in navigating an uncertain tomorrow, through engaging and thought-provoking discussions.

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

TUESDAY, 18 MARCH 2025

  • [1800]

    Networking Cocktail

  • [1900]

    Opening Dinner & Welcome Address

WEDNESDAY, 19 MARCH 2025

  • [0930]

    Keynote address

  • [1000]

    Networking Coffee

  • [1045]

    Government Leader Remarks

  • [1100]

    Plenary 1: Evolving Threats, Geopolitics and Nature of Conflicts – Impact on Defence Technology

    The ever-changing threat landscape has introduced unprecedented uncertainties to the nature of conflicts. A cost-effectiveness dichotomy through the use of low-cost and unconventional systems has come to the fore, and asymmetric warfare is now pervasive. In an age of tech contestation among global powers, as well as the increasing adoption of technological advancements like Artificial Intelligence, lessons learnt from recent conflicts and geopolitical environments have highlighted the complex interplay of capabilities across the air, land, sea, space and cyberspace domains. In this dynamic environment, there is a need to assess how the development of technology would need to pivot, and to identify blind-spots for proactive action in mitigating these uncertainties.

  • [1200]

    Lunch

  • [1330]

    Plenary 2: Agility in Action – Driving Innovation to Meet Evolving Defence Challenges

    To fully exploit technology at the speed of relevance calls for adaptability and agility, especially if we want to take advantage of new commercial and dual-use technology. At the same time, there is a need to build in robustness and resilience in the systems design and supply chains. This comes with uncertainties in how we strike a balance between being able to embrace new technologies and work with new partners – such as start-ups and non-military players, while ensuring systems and industrial base resiliency. This panel will review how defence organisations can adopt agile approaches and rapid adaptation strategies to accelerate tech innovations, and effectively deliver capabilities to respond to new and unpredictable threats.

  • [1430]

    Tea Break

  • [1500]

    Plenary 3: Artificial Intelligence in Defence and Security - The Technology Gamechanger

    In the ever-evolving landscape of defence, technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) serve as a catalyst for transformation. What are the future trends and developments in AI? Is it real or hype? Where do we get the highest payoff? Where are the technological pitfalls? This panel casts a gaze into how AI is reshaping defence and security, and discusses how governments, industry and other defence partners leverage AI for defence applications at speed. The panel will also discuss the challenges and pitfalls of implementing AI for defence and security.

  • [1600]

    Fireside Chat

  • [1630]

    Networking Drinks

THURSDAY, 20 MARCH 2025

  • [0900]

    Fireside Chat

  • [0930]

    Plenary 4: Disruption by Digital and Emerging Technologies – Bridging Today and Tomorrow

    Digital and emerging technologies such as advanced materials, advanced sensing and biotechnology are gaining traction in the defence domain, and present potential to unlock new defence capabilities. However, therein lies complexities in integrating these technologies into current operations and supply chains. This session examines the disruptions that digital and emerging technologies introduce to existing capabilities and processes today, and strategises how conventional and emerging technologies can work together to complement each other for the operational capabilities of tomorrow.

  • [1030]

    Tea Break

  • [1100]

    Government Leader Remarks

  • [1115]

    Summary Plenary: Partnerships for Agility and Resilience

    In a climate with many different sources of uncertainty ranging from geopolitical, economic and technological, robust partnerships that transcend boundaries – across the government, industry, academia and start-ups – are necessary. This plenary will summarise the various uncertainties and discuss the importance of partnerships, both in terms of new ways of collaboration with our traditional industry partners, as well as forging new partnerships, to best harness emerging and dual-use technologies and strengthen defence industrial base resilience.

  • [1230]

    Lunch

MODERATORS & SPEAKERS

  • Mr James Allen
    Mr James AllenExecutive Vice
    President,
    Booz Allen Hamilton (USA)
  • Mr Callan Carpenter
    Mr Callan CarpenterVice President, Digital
    Twin Solutions, Unity Technologies (USA)
  • Dr Chan Yew Wing
    Dr Chan Yew WingDeputy Chief Executive
    Officer (Systems),
    DSO National
    Laboratories (Singapore)
  • Prof Deeph Chana
    Prof Deeph ChanaCo-Director, Institute for
    Security Science
    and Technology,
    Imperial College London (UK)
  • Dr Todd Citron
    Dr Todd CitronChief Technology Officer,
    The Boeing Company (USA)
  • Vice Admiral Arie Jan de Waard
    Vice Admiral Arie Jan
    de Waard
    National Armaments
    Director and Director, Defence Material
    Organisation (Netherlands)
  • Honorable Dana Deasy
    Honorable Dana DeasyFormer Chief
    Information Officer,
    US Department of
    Defence (USA)
  • LGA Gaël Diaz de Tuesta
    LG(Armament) Gaël
    Diaz de Tuesta
    Director International
    Development Directorate,
    Directorate General of Armaments (France)
  • BG(Ret) Dr Daniel Gold
    BG(Ret) Dr Daniel GoldHead, Directorate of
    Defence Research
    and Development,
    Israel Ministry of
    Defence (Israel)
  • Mr Sean Gourley
    Mr Sean GourleyFounder and Chief
    Executive Officer,
    Primer (USA)
  • Prof Martial Hebert
    Prof Martial HebertDean and University
    Professor, School of Computer Science,
    Carnegie Mellon
    University (USA)
  • Mr Peter Ho
    Mr Peter HoExecutive Chairman,
    HOPE Technik (Singapore)
  • Mr Chris Johnson
    Mr Chris JohnsonSenior Vice President,
    Nokia Enterprise (UK)
  • Prof Henric Johnson
    Prof Henric JohnsonGlobal Head of Science
    & Innovation, Business Sweden (Sweden)
  • Honorable Frank Kendall III
    Honorable Frank Kendall IIISecretary, U.S.
    Air Force (USA)
  • Mr Josh Kennedy-White
    Mr Josh Kennedy-WhiteSenior Advisor,
    Interos Inc (USA)
  • Dr Ee-Eul Kim
    Dr Ee-Eul KimPresident and Chief
    Executive Officer,
    Satrec Initiative
    (Republic of Korea)
  • Dr Dale Lambert
    Dr Dale LambertChief of Information
    Sciences Division, Defence
    Science and Technology Group, Department of
    Defence (Australia)
  • BG Lee Yi-Jin
    BG Lee Yi-JinChief of Digital and
    Intelligence Service
    / Director Military
    Intelligence, Singapore
    Armed Forces (Singapore)
  • IGA Dominique Luzeaux
    IGA Dominique LuzeauxDirector Defence
    Digital Agency,
    Directorate General
    of Armaments (France)
  • Dr Bradley Martin
    Dr Bradley MartinDirector, RAND
    National Security
    Supply Chain
    Institute and Senior
    Policy Researcher,
    RAND Corporation (USA)
  • Mr Bill McDermott
    Mr Bill McDermottPresident and Chief
    Executive Officer,
    ServiceNow (USA)
  • Dr Sean McFate
    Dr Sean McFateProfessor of Strategy,
    Georgetown University
    and National Defence
    University (USA)
  • General Paul M. Nakasone
    General Paul M. NakasoneUnited States Army, Commander,
    United States Cyber Command,
    Director,
    National Security Agency/Chief,
    Central Security Service (USA)
  • Ms Ng Teng Teng
    Ms Ng Teng TengDirector (Technology
    Capability), Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
  • Honorable Matteo Perego di Cremnago
    Honorable Matteo
    Perego di Cremnago
    Undersecretary for Defence (Italy)
  • Dr Michael Raska
    Dr Michael RaskaAssistant Professor
    and Coordinator for
    Military Transformation
    Programme, S.Rajaratnam
    School of International
    Studies (Singapore)
  • Mr Kusti Salm
    Mr Kusti SalmPermanent Secretary,
    Ministry of Defence (Estonia)
  • Dr Axel Scheibel
    Dr Axel ScheibelManagement Board
    Member, Krauss-Maffei
    Wegmann GmbH &
    Co. KG (Germany)
  • Dr Michael Schoellhorn
    Dr Michael SchoellhornChief Executive Officer,
    Airbus Defence
    and Space (Germany)
  • Dr Youngwoo Seo
    Dr Youngwoo SeoExecutive Vice President,
    Hanwha Aerospace
    (Republic of Korea)
  • Mr David Spirk
    Mr David SpirkSenior Counselor,
    Palantir Technologies (USA)
  • Mr Mike Stone
    Mr Mike StoneChief Executive Officer, FitzRoy Stone Enterprises, and Ex-Managing Partner,
    Global Government,
    IBM (UK)
  • BG(Ret) Jaak Tarien
    BG(Ret) Jaak TarienVice President of
    Sales and Business
    Development, Cybernetica
    AS (Estonia)
  • Ms Lila Tretikov
    Ms Lila TretikovCorporate Vice President
    and Deputy Chief
    Technology Officer,
    Microsoft Corporation (USA)
  • Mr Kuldar Väärsi
    Mr Kuldar VäärsiFounder and Chief
    Executive Officer,
    Milrem Robotics (Estonia)
  • Dr Marjorie Vanbaelinghem
    Dr Marjorie VanbaelinghemDirector, Institute
    for Strategic Research
    of the Ministry
    of Armed Forces (France)
  • LG Michael Vetter
    LG Michael VetterDirector General Cyber /
    IT and Chief Information Officer, German Federal
    Ministry of Defence (Germany)
  • Mr Sven Weizenegger
    Mr Sven WeizeneggerHead of Bundeswehr Cyber
    Innovation Hub (Germany)
  • Mr Marcel ‘Otto’ Yon
    Mr Marcel ‘Otto’ YonPartner and Founder,
    innovation@scale and Freedom Fund (Germany)
Download Full Event Brochure

CHECK OUT TECH SUMMIT 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

HEAR FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS

Honorable Frank Kendall III

The international participation gives you a chance to hear a lot of different perspectives on things, and we addressed some very topical and important issues here. I thoroughly enjoyed attending this conference – it’s why I’m back.

Honorable Frank Kendall III Secretary,
U.S. Air Force (USA)
Dr Michael Raska

I’ve been involved in all the tech summits, and this is the biggest one that I have experienced so far. There is greater engagement from the defence industry, government, and academia, to understand each other and exchange viewpoints.

Dr Michael Raska Assistant Professor and Coordinator for Military Transformation Programme,
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (Singapore)
Mr Marcel ‘Otto’ Yon

I have to say that DSTA is the world champion in connecting people. We had excellent discussions, and obviously we are in a time where discussion is needed around defence.

Mr Marcel ‘Otto’ Yon Partner and Founder,
innovation@scale and Freedom Fund (Germany)
Dr Dale Lambert

I really valued having a diversity of opinions from people from different nations all being present together in one place. With that, you get that exchange of ideas that you wouldn’t otherwise obtain. This is fundamental to making the world a much safer and more secure place.

Dr Dale Lambert Former Chief of Information Sciences Division,
Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence (Australia)
Mr David Spirk

The commentary here is just a very mature understanding of where I think we are in looking at technology for the defence sector, but also an understanding of practitioners, who both understand the technology and understand the national security sector and how we’re applying both of those. It’s been a wonderful experience to see both of those types of people come together.

Mr David Spirk Senior Counselor,
Palantir Technologies (USA)
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