Date and time
Date: Thursday, 19 November 2026
Time: 08:00–09:30 CET
International Leadership Breakfast | NEDS 2026
Building Resilience. Securing Autonomy.
Scaling Dual Use.
From Strategic Ambition to Real-World Impact.
Location
Theater Zuidplein
Gooilandsingel 95
Rotterdam
Event focus
Building Resilience
Securing Autonomy
Scaling Dual Use
INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST | NEDS 2026
From European Ambition to Real-World Capability
Europe's resilience depends on more than defence investment. It depends on the strength of our cities, ports, industries, supply chains and critical infrastructure, and on our ability to develop and deploy the capabilities needed to protect them.
Europe is investing in defence readiness, industrial capacity and strategic autonomy. The direction is clear. The challenge now is to turn these investments into operational results, connect civilian innovation with defence requirements and reduce critical dependencies.
Many of the technologies needed are already being developed and applied across civilian industries. Autonomous and uncrewed systems, artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum technologies, secure communications and advanced data infrastructures offer solutions to challenges shared by civilian operators and defence organisations.
The question is how we bring these capabilities together, accelerate their adoption and create the conditions for deployment at scale.
Three Priorities. One Shared Ambition.
BUILDING RESILIENCE
Strengthening the systems we depend on.
Protecting critical infrastructure, securing supply chains and maintaining operational continuity require more than individual technologies. They demand cooperation between public authorities, infrastructure operators, industry and defence, supported by capabilities that work under real operational conditions.
SECURING AUTONOMY
Preserving our freedom to act.
Strategic autonomy requires access to critical technologies, secure digital infrastructure, industrial capacity and reliable international partnerships. Our ability to make independent decisions depends on having the capabilities, knowledge and resources to act on them.
SCALING DUAL USE
Turning civilian innovation into shared capabilities.
Many emerging technologies serve both civilian and military needs. Connecting those needs creates opportunities to accelerate innovation, strengthen European industry and open new markets. The real challenge is moving beyond development and demonstration towards procurement, operational adoption and wider deployment.
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Why Rotterdam?
Rotterdam is home to Europe's largest port and one of its most internationally connected industrial and logistics regions.
Here, resilience and autonomy are part of everyday operations. The protection of critical infrastructure, continuity of international supply chains, maritime security and the integration of emerging technologies all require close cooperation between government, industry, research and operational organisations.
Rotterdam brings these parties together in an environment where new technologies can be developed, tested and validated against real operational needs.
This creates opportunities to connect civilian and defence capabilities, strengthen industrial cooperation and develop solutions with applications well beyond the Rotterdam region.
Connecting People. Creating Opportunities. Delivering Results.
Ahead of NEDS 2026, DronePort Rotterdam and Rotterdam Partners are bringing together a selected group of international leaders from government, defence, industry, research and investment.
We want to bring the right people together to discuss shared operational challenges, identify opportunities for cooperation and explore how existing technologies and industrial capabilities can be put to work.
Our conversation will centre on three questions:
- How can civilian innovation contribute to stronger security, resilience and operational capabilities?
- What is needed to accelerate the adoption and scaling of dual-use technologies?
- Where can international cooperation deliver practical results, strengthen industrial capacity and create new economic opportunities?
We look forward to hosting this international pre-event breakfast and welcoming guests from across the world to Rotterdam.
It is an opportunity to strengthen existing relationships, establish new connections and explore what we can achieve together, both within Europe and internationally.
Resilience is built through action. Autonomy is secured through capability. Dual use creates value when innovation reaches operational scale.
Event information
Date
Thursday, 19 November 2026
Time
08:00–09:30 CET
Venue
Theater Zuidplein
Within walking distance of Rotterdam Ahoy
Address
Gooilandsingel 95
3083 DP Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Hosts
DronePort Rotterdam and Rotterdam Partners
Related event
Registration — By Invitation Only
By invitation
This is an invitation-only event.
Participation is reserved for invited guests, and advance registration is required. Please use your personal invitation to confirm your attendance.
The registration link will be provided with your invitation. Further programme details and practical information will be shared with confirmed participants.
We look forward to welcoming you to Rotterdam.
Unable to attend?
If you cannot attend and would like a colleague to take your place, please contact us at info@droneportrotterdam.com.
Please include your colleague's name, position, organisation and professional email address. Our organising team will review the replacement request and confirm the arrangements. Invitations are not automatically transferable.
We look forward to welcoming you to Rotterdam!
Chicane Visser
Project Lead Innovation & Impact Events – DronePort Rotterdam
Mietta Groeneveld
Director – NATO Command and Control Centre of Excellence (C2COE)