Side Events

The Hamburg Dual Use Forum is a joint side event organised by the Global Security and Innovation Summit and the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. It connects the international security and technology policy debate of GSIS with Hamburg’s economic, industrial and maritime strengths. From the outset, the format is conceived as more than a local specialist event. Hamburg is intended to serve as the starting point for a growing Dual Use Forum for Northern Europe, bringing together relevant stakeholders from the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions, the Baltics, Scandinavia and beyond. The aim is to establish Hamburg as a central hub for European dialogue on dual use, resilience, maritime security, industrial sovereignty and technological scaling.

The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce plays a special role in this format. It is not only an institutional partner, but also the key bridge to Hamburg’s business community. With its network, its proximity to companies and its work on resilience, crisis preparedness, foreign trade and location development, it contributes precisely the perspective that is essential for dual use: how can security policy challenges be translated into concrete fields of entrepreneurial action, marketable solutions and robust structures? How can technological excellence become practical applications, viable business models and scalable contributions to resilience and European strategic capability?

Hamburg is a particularly suitable location for these questions. The city brings together port operations, logistics, the maritime economy, aviation, industry, science, digital technologies and international trade relations. At the same time, Hamburg is strategically located at the intersection of the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Northern European security and economic areas. The format showcases companies, technologies and ecosystems that are already working on solutions which strengthen civilian markets while also contributing to security capabilities. The focus is on practical application, industrial scaling, entrepreneurial feasibility and international connectivity.

The Hamburg Dual Use Forum brings together four perspectives:

• Hamburg’s strengths in maritime systems, navigation, industrial integration, critical infrastructure and technological value creation. 
• The entrepreneurial perspective on transfer, market access, piloting, financing and scaling of dual-use business models.
• The Northern European perspective, with a focus on the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Baltics, Scandinavia, maritime security, logistics, energy, infrastructure and industrial resilience.
• International comparison with leading dual-use ecosystems, particularly with regard to strategic demand, procurement and prototyping.

The Hamburg Dual Use Forum is intended to become a recurring format. In future, it is planned to take place annually in the context of GSIS and to gradually develop into a Northern European and European meeting point for technology, business, security and entrepreneurial resilience. 

Please note: Further information on participation and ticketing will be announced in due course.
 

13:00–13:10 | Welcome

13:10–13:20 | Keynote I: Europe’s Dual-Use Moment – What Makes an Ecosystem Internationally Relevant

13:20–13:35 | Keynote II: Why Hamburg Can Deliver Now

13:35–14:20 | Panel I: From Hamburg for Europe – Maritime Systems, Navigation and Industrial Sovereignty
Hamburg-based companies already possess technological capabilities with significant relevance for both civilian and security-related applications. The discussion will focus on maritime systems, navigation, integration and industrial value creation.

14:30–15:00 | Panel II: From Prototype to Second Market – How Dual-Use Business Models Become Viable
How can new technologies from Hamburg be transferred into civilian and security-related applications? This panel will discuss market access, piloting, transfer and the requirements for scalable dual-use business models.

15:00–15:30 | Networking Break
Networking break with demo walk and opportunities for exchange in the foyer area.

15:30–16:20 | Panel III: International Benchmarks – How Dual Use Scales
What factors make dual-use ecosystems successful at international level? The focus will be on procurement, prototyping, strategic demand and how innovative technologies can move more quickly into application and scaling.

16:20–16:50 | Closing Session: Three Next Steps for Hamburg
In a moderated closing session, the key insights of the afternoon will be brought together and perspectives for possible follow-up formats and concrete timelines will be outlined.

16:50–17:00 | Closing
Closing remarks and transition into the wider networking environment, including the GSIS Networking Night, which is included in the ticket.

Please note: This is a target programme. Speakers are listed as examples and remain subject to final confirmation. The programme is subject to change.