Marine Innovation Day is bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to explore the future of defense innovation within the marine environment. Through keynotes about global learnings and networking opportunities, we drive collaboration for a stronger, more resilient security landscape.
The event is part of the project Marine Technology Node in Blekinge, funded by:
Marine Technology Center of Sweden is an ecosystem for academia, industry, and public organizations, based in the naval city of Karlskrona, Blekinge, but creating ripples across the world.
Our focus is research, innovation, and collaboration within the marine environments. Together, we strive for a secure and green Europe.
Time | Agenda | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 - 10:30 | Check in and coffee | |
| 10:30 - 10:45 | Welcome and introduction | - Moderator |
| 10:45 - 11:15 | The security policy situation in a Global & Baltic Sea context | - Dr. Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe, Atlantic Council |
| 11:15 - 11:35 | Introduction to COVE and the Canadian defense innovation scene | - Matthew Clancey, Program Director, NATO DIANA at COVE |
| 11:35 - 12:00 | Introduction to METIP and the Dutch defense innovation scene | -Paul Verbruggen, Director, METIP (Maritime Emerging Technologies Innovation Park Foundation) |
| 12:00 - 13:30 | Lunch | |
| 13:30 - 13:35 | How to construct a defense innovation system that actually works | - Nataliia Kushnerska, CEO Brave1 |
| 13:35 - 13:50 | - Gustaf von Grothusen, CEO of Polar Mist | |
| 13:50 - 14:10 | Riding the wave as a defense entrepreneur in Sweden. Smooth sailing? | - Oscar Fors, CEO and founder, Nautrik AB |
| 14:10 - 14:30 | European Defense Tech Hub EDTH and bringing the community together | -Jens Holzapfel, Business Development, Nordic Air Defence |
| 14:30-15:00 | Fika break | |
| 15:10-15:30 | Blekinge Institute of Technology - Research | |
| 15:30-15:45 | The final teams for MTC:s student challenge in collaboration with BTH and FMV, will be presented. | |
| 15:45-16:00 | Conclusion | - David Appelberg, Marine Technology Center of Sweden |
| 16:30-18:00 | Welcome drink Embedded Art, Vallgatan 20 (entrance via Brunnsgränd) | |
| 18:30-19:00 | Welcome drink Sjöofficersmässen | |
| 19:00 | Dinner Sjöofficersmässen |
*The schedule is constantly being updated, so consider these as approximate times.
Director for Northern Europe, Atlantic Council
Anna Wieslander is the Director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council and Chair of the Swedish Defence Association. She is a leading expert on transatlantic security, NATO, and European defence policy. With extensive experience in government, academia, and think tanks, she regularly advises policymakers and contributes to global security discussions.
Here are this year’s speakers – the list will be updated continuously, so stay tuned!
Program Director, NATO DIANA at COVE
Matthew Clancey leads COVE’s NATO DIANA Accelerator Program, supporting companies in developing dual-use technologies for civilian and defence markets. He connects innovators with key stakeholders, helping bring impactful ideas to end users. With experience as a Canadian Army officer and in the aerospace sector, Matt specializes in stakeholder engagement, project management, and strategic planning.
Business Development, Nordic Air Defence
Jens Holzapfel is a venture advisor for defence tech investments at Inflection, a first-check venture capital firm, and an angel investor in security companies. He is also the business director of Nordic Air Defence, a defence tech startup developing a novel solution to counter drones. Previously, Jens spent two decades in the Swedish defence and national security community, holding various managerial and specialist roles both in Sweden and overseas.
Director, METIP (Maritime Emerging Technologies Innovation Park Foundation)
Paul Verbruggen leads METIP, a hub for maritime and marine technology innovation. METIP supports startups and scale-ups with networking, funding, and growth guidance. The center focuses on autonomous shipping, drone deployment, sustainable maritime operations, and digitalization, collaborating closely with industry, research institutions, and the Royal Netherlands Navy.
CEO and founder, Nautrik AB
Nautrik is a company specializing in the design and development of autonomous maritime drones for both defense and civilian applications. Oscar has a background in electric boat manufacturing and battery factory development, he brings extensive experience from 14 years in Silicon Valley, California. Nautrik is a fast-growing defense-tech company, driving advancements in maritime autonomy and AI through high expertise and rapid iteration cycles.
CEO and founder, Polar Mist
Gustaf von Grothusen is CEO of Polar Mist, alumni of the engineering physics programme at LTH, proud marine. Polar Mist is taking an AI-first approach to maritime deterrence, fusing real life military know-how with modern AI-techniques, to build modern deterrence at low cost.
We got more interesting speakers coming up!
Shaping the future of defense innovation.
Date: may 14, 2025
Location: Blue Port Studios, Karlskrona
Event duration: 10:00 – 16:00
Dinner: 19:00
Last day to register: April 30th
We will answer as soon as possible.
