12 Sep 18. The Global Space Congress, 19 – 21 March 2019, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Global Space Congress is a strategic gather of global space industry leaders. Promoting the worldwide industry of space, the Congress brings together over 600 key space agencies, commercial space, academia and end users of space services to evaluate the biggest opportunities in the space sector and to get exposure to the world’s most vibrant and energetic new space programmes. Focused on partnerships, the Congress enables these leaders to focus on collaborative development and the implementation of core space and satellite technology strategies bringing global and regional economic benefits. The Global Space Congress is where space policies are defined and strategies developed; where new applications for space technology are showcased and the development of highly skilled technical workforces to support national development are promoted. It hosts discussions and initiatives that will have a practical and lasting impact on the overall development of the space sector in the Middle East and globally.
12 Sep 18. DSEI exhibition enters its 20th year on an upward trend, and with a focus on Emerging Technologies, Cross-Sector Exploitation and International Collaboration. The next edition of Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) will mark 20 years since the event was first established as ‘the British Army and Navy exhibition’. Returning to ExCeL London 10-13 September 2019, DSEI now encompasses the entire defence and security audience, including Air, Land, Naval, Security and Joint, and has grown – both in size and content – to reflect the complex nature of modern warfare and security operations. Twenty years in defence is a long time – and the industry has evolved considerably – unrecognisably in many respects – since 1999. Priorities changed significantly, and rapidly, after 11 September 2001 – which many of us learned of while in the exhibition halls of DSEI.
The intensifying threat from the “digital battlefield”, wide-ranging cuts to defence spending and expansion of technological know-how during this time have shaped and reshaped the way industry does business.
DSEI 2019 will overarchingly focus on Emerging Technologies, Cross-Sector Exploitation and International Collaboration. Visitors can also expect significant focus on Artificial Intelligence; Autonomous Systems; Robotics; and Big Data, from the industry’s leading lights. These themes will run throughout the exhibition and conference programme.
Held biennially, DSEI connects governments, national armed forces, industry thought leaders and the global defence and security supply chain on an unrivalled scale. The event is curated to consistently support both the prime contractors as well as small and medium-sized enterprises while, crucially, giving the UK exports a significant boost. On a rolling 10 year basis, the UK remains the second largest global defence exporter. In 2017, it won defence and security orders worth £9bn and £4.8bn respectively, up on the previous year (£5.9 bn and £4.3bn).
DSEI will also promote the global supply chain via dedicated new feature areas on the exhibition floor. These specialised “hubs” will showcase cross-sector suppliers within the Manufacturing, Innovation, Communications, Cyber, Space and Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul & Upgrade domains.
Exhibiting companies featuring for the first time include the world’s leading multi-technology tier 1 aerospace supplier, GKN Aerospace, and Pela Systems which manufactures products including the PelaCopter – an unmanned system which can be flown into hazardous situations and provide real-time data to aid decision making in the field. The company also specialises in emergency communications, threat monitoring, and surveillance systems.
Many products, now globally renowned, were first introduced to the market at DSEI. Remember the LifeSaver water bottle which debuted its pioneering water-purifying drinking vessel to the world at DSEI in 2007? The product was named DSEI’s “Best Technological Development” and the entire stock sold out within four hours of the presentation. Having first caught the attention of the British Army, the Lifesaver water bottle is now used globally by militaries, humanitarian teams and outdoor enthusiasts.
DSEI 2019 will also see the debut of both Latvia and Lithuania, who will for the first-time host national pavilions providing a hub of their countries’ defence and security ingenuity. Among the 30 country pavilions confirmed to date, nations such as the Czech Republic, Holland, Denmark, Slovakia, and Australia have significantly larger areas, reflecting the rise in exportable expertise from these regions, and a desire to develop international partnerships.