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
- Ms April Chin
Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer,
Resaro (Singapore) - Dr Todd Citron
Chief Technology Officer,
The Boeing Company (USA) - LG(Armament) Gaël Diaz De Tuesta
National Armament Director,
International Directorate for Cooperation and Export of the Directorate General of Armament (France) - Dr He Ruimin
Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer,
Ministry of Digital Development and Information (Singapore) - Mr Rodrigo Liang
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer,
SambaNova Systems (USA) - Mr Andy Lowery
Chief Executive Officer,
Epirus, Inc. (USA) - Mr Alex Moore
Partner,
8VC (USA) - Mr Bertrand Rondepierre
General Manager,
Agency for Artificial Intelligence in Defence (France) - LG(Ret) John Shanahan
Adjunct Senior Fellow,
Technology and National Security Program,
Center for a New American Security (USA) - Ms Clementine Starling
Director,
Forward Defense Program,
Atlantic Council (USA) - VADM Carsten Stawitzki
Director-General for Armament,
German Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)
CHECK OUT TECH SUMMIT 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
HEAR FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS
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)
I’d like to recommend others to join the tech summit because we are talking about bridging the gap and breaking down silos. And to do those things we need to get together, to understand each other, and exchange ideas.
Dr Ee-Eul Kim President and Chief Executive Officer,Satrec Initiative (Republic of Korea)
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)
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)
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)
The biggest key takeaway (from the summit) is that we need to come together as partners, both within our industries, across industries, across sectors, but even more importantly, across countries. It is only together that we can ensure that (the world) is safe and inclusive for everybody.
Ms Lila Tretikov Former Deputy Chief Technology Officer,Microsoft Corporation (USA)
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)