Sponsored by Clarion Events
https://www.dsei.co.uk
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
04 Dec 24. Beyond the controller: Strategic Command’s Defence esports and digital skills event. Following the successful digital skills event in March, Strategic Command hosted a further event in London, underscoring the importance of digital in Defence. As the global threats and vulnerabilities we face evolve and increase in an ever-contested world, Defence must adapt to ensure that our skills and technology continue to maintain our competitive edge against our adversaries.
Our esports and digital skills event showcased how gaming and immersive technologies are shaping the future of Defence. How these tools can help to develop crucial skills in strategic thinking, dexterity, data management, and coding – skills our modern Defence force needs.
At the event Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes said:
It’s been amazing to witness the energy and enthusiasm at this event. People are quickly grasping how esports can change our perspectives and enhance our skills, whilst having a lot of fun. Whether it’s strategic thinking, rapid decision-making, fine motor skills, coding and designing, or teamwork, there’s direct application to the military and how we achieve deliver our purpose.
But it’s more than skills – esports allows us to bring together people from across the Services, the civil service, other government departments and industry, to build a strong and engaged ‘One Defence’ team. And we can use it to engage our international allies and partners too. We know that we’re stronger together and esports can help.
Taking a whole force approach, the event brought together military personnel and civil servants to experience activities that highlighted how esports and digital platforms can provide a critical form of training and skills development.
The event offered everyone a chance to get hands-on experiences with innovative technologies, including, virtual reality and augmented reality training platforms. From Royal Navy boat simulators testing maritime operational skills, to RAF fighter jet simulators challenging pilot decision-making, and strategy games tested planning and risk management. All showcasing how digital technologies and esports can develop critical thinking, rapid decision-making, and the ability to navigate complex scenarios – vital skills to all operations.
Speaking at the event, Minister for Veterans and People, Alastair Carns, further outlined the importance of digital in Defence, and how esports can help attract, develop, and retain top cyber and digital talent. Highlighting how our personnel must now be as adept with code and cybersecurity as they are with traditional combative skills. From drone operations to data analysis, the modern defence force needs agile minds that can navigate both physical and digital battlegrounds.
Technology partnerships are helping to drive this transformation forward. Industry leaders like Microsoft and Activision, both of whom were present at the event, are working with Defence to enhance our digital skills. By embracing esports and innovative learning technologies, we’re building a workforce that can think, adapt, and operate across both virtual and physical domains.
We are increasingly working in a digital and tech-enabled environment, and with the cyber frontline facing daily threats, digital skills are vital for everyone in Defence. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine exemplifies how a digitally enabled force can effectively resist a larger adversary, with their rapid mastery of drones illustrating how the speed of innovation is key to gaining the upper hand in a digital age. This is why we need to make sure our forces have the digital skills to succeed, and our event has gone a long way in helping cement this. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
06 Dec 24. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) confirmed the speakers set to address the IISS Manama Dialogue 2024, the Middle East’s premier security summit.
In its 20th year, the Dialogue will be celebrated with the Opening Address from Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bahrain. This will be delivered after 1930 AST on Friday 6 December. The Minister will mark the twenty years of the IISS Manama Dialogue and also the year of Bahrain’s Presidency of the Arab League.
Saturday’s plenary sessions will begin with a Special Keynote Address by His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Saudi Arabia. This will take place at 0900 AST on Saturday 7 December.
Other confirmed speakers are as follows:
General Walaa Adel Aboelfarag, Assistant Minister of Defense for Foreign Affairs, Egypt
Stefanie Beck, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Canada
Dr Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
Dr Thanos Dokos, National Security Advisor, Greece
Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Hamish Falconer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan), UK
Dr Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation
Admiral Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire, Chief of Joint Staff of the Armed Forces, Brazil
Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, UAE
Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency
Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy for Yemen, UN
Sven Koopmans, Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, EU
Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, Singapore
Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, India
Dr Tobias Lindner, Minister of State, Germany
Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Armenia
Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, National Security Council, US
Tomáš Pojar, National Security Advisor, Czech Republic
Sameh Shoukry, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Egypt
Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defence, Hungary
Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonia
Tim Watts, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia
Nuh Yılmaz, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Türkyie
02 Dec 24. SDSC wrap-up.
Wednesday, 20 November, saw the conclusion of another highly successful iteration of SDSC-UK. Having moved to Telford International Centre in 2023, SDSC-UK 2024 was bigger and better than ever.
With an expanded agenda, including an additional day focused on the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), the event which is unique in the UK Defence calender provided an invaluable platform for defence professionals to discuss and shape the future of technology and innovation in UK Defence.
We were pleased to welcome many familiar faces and even more delighted to welcome new exhibitors and companies to SDSC-UK 2024.
The first day of the event provided an update on UK MOD’s forthcoming programme of capability, delivered by UK MOD Strategic Command (UKStratCom), Defence, Equipment and Support (DE&S), DASA and Dstl.
The day was followed by a networking drinks for over 400 guests.
Air Commodore Paul Rose, Head of Capability Special Projects said “It’s amazing to be back at SDSC-UK for another year, with industry, small and medium enterprises up to large Primes working with us in Defence to try and deliver amazing capabilities for our specialist community.”
We were also delighted to welcome representatives from US Department of Defense, including:
- US Army Futures Command/DEVCOM
- US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
- SOFWERX
- Office of the Undersecretary of Defense Research & Engineering – International Prototypes and Experimenting
- British Defence Staff, British Embassy, Washington DC
- US Army Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) including representatives from:
o US Army
o US Navy/USMC
o US Airforce
Highlights of the event included:
- Engaging with senior UK Ministry of Defence leaders and US Department of Defence representatives
- UK MOD representatives (US based) and Department for Business and Trade (Defence & Security Exports) on hand to answer questions regarding defence market strategies, protecting your intellectual property and how to leverage other engagement opportunities
- SDSC-UK 2024 Conference: Compered by Major General (Retd) Robin Anderton-Brown, highlights included….
- A session run by Future Comparative Testing (FCT) which allowed industry representatives to meet key members of the FCT and Army Futures Command
- The privilege of witnessing CoreTech Security Services sign and Becrypt renew its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant
- Complimentary Exhibition Welcome Drinks, sponsored by Ultra PCS which was enjoyed by over 500 guests
Visit our website to see the highlights: https://www.sdsc-uk.co.uk/?utm_source=3CDS+%28Trading%29+Ltd&utm_campaign=cb85d29e7d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_03_06_10_25_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-0fd3e60904-482440961
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
DSEI 2025 – POWERING PROGRESS, DEFINING YOUR FUTURE
DSEI connects governments, national armed forces, industry thought leaders and the entire defence & security supply chain on a global scale. With a range of valuable opportunities for networking, a platform for business, access to relevant content & live-action demonstrations, the DSEI community can strengthen relationships, share knowledge and engage in the latest capabilities across the exhibition’s Aerospace, Land, Naval, Security & Joint Zones.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-