How can Dutch public security organizations adapt to today’s rapidly-changing circumstances?
On Thursday 30 November 2017, representatives from industry, government and knowledge institutes, led by former Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army Lieutenant General (ret.) Mart de Kruif, will come together to discuss how the adaptivity of our armed forces, police and security organizations can and must ensure the safety of the public. Hans Büthker, CEO of GKN Aerospace, Gerrit den Uyl, Director of the Police Service Centre, Paul de Krom, CEO and chair of the Executive Board at TNO and Pierre Delsaux, Deputy Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs with the European Commission will all share their perspectives on recent developments in this sector.
This will take place in connection with the Netherlands Industries for Defence and Security (NIDV) foundation’s 29th annual Symposium & Exhibition, to be held in the Rotterdam Ahoy conference center.
Our national security cannot be viewed as distinct from the developments taking place around us. Technology is advancing at an exponential rate and is becoming increasingly accessible for a larger group. As a result, our opponents sometimes have access to the most advanced resources. There would also seem to be few obstacles in place to prevent terrorists from obtaining these means. Governments, on the other hand, are subject to constraint in the form of a multitude of regulations.
In 2017, the challenges faced by security organizations in the Netherlands have not decreased. Partly for that reason, the Dutch government has decided to once again invest in the security of our country. This investment is vital and will offer a range of opportunities. The NIDV Symposium demonstrates how the business community can contribute to the security of the Netherlands by supplying innovative products.
About 100 companies from a dozen countries in and outside Europe will be in attendance on Thursday. There will also be plenty of opportunity for the companies to do business together. In addition, the Ministry of Defence, the Police, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will attend as exhibitors. This year’s Exhibition will pay particular attention to maritime and radar technologies, although IT, communications, simulators and sustainability will be addressed as well. In the course of a single day, all major players from the government, industry and knowledge institutes will have a chance to speak with one another.
The day’s event is a closed meeting for professionals from the business community and government. More than 2,300 people recently registered. Members of the press are welcome. Credentials must be presented and personal details submitted by email. Journalists may contact the NIDV foundation to register. Contact: Anne Brockherde, email: a.brockherde@nidv.eu, tel.: +31 (0)62 643 1082.

• Morning program (Symposium hall):
  Moderator: Lieutenant General (ret.) Mart de Kruif
  08:00 – 17:00 Visit exhibition
  10:00 – 10:05 Welcome by Hans Hillen, chairman NIDV
  10:05 – 10:15 Introduction by Symposium moderator
  10:15 – 10:35 Hans Büthker, CEO GKN Aerospace : “Steppingstone to the Aerospace
  Champions League”
  10:35 – 10:55 Gerrit den Uyl, director of Police Services Centre: “The police and the
  future of our security”
  10:55 – 11:20 Coffee/tea break
  11:20 – 11:40 Paul de Krom, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of TNO: “The past is a given, but you can shape the future”
  11:40 – 12:00 Pierre Delsaux, European Commission, Deputy Director-General for the
  Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs: “The way to a
  European Industrial Technological Base for Defence and Security”
  12:00 – 12:15 Summary and conclusion by Symposium moderator
  12:15 – 12:25 2nd presentation of the Jan Gmelich Meijling-Award by Lieutenant General Martin Wijnen
  
• Afternoon program (Booth 2.110, Hal 2):
  Moderator: Major General (ret.) Jaap Willemse
  13:30 – 14:00 Defence Innovation Game – Winner’s speech (TNO and Skydec)
  14:00 – 14:15 Jaime Karreman, marineschepen.nl: Q&A and handover book “In het
  diepste geheim” to vice admiral Arie Jan de Waard
  14:15 – 14:45 Ron Boelsma, Innovation- and Knowledge broker, Police: “Is security
  possible without Artificial Intelligence?”
  15:00 – 15:30 Captain Paul Willemse, Projectleader (NL) Mine Countermeasures (MCM), Defence Material Organisation: “Belgium – The Netherlands future MCM
  Programme”
  15:45 – 16:15 Mark Bokdam , Projectleader C2000, Fire Brigade: “Deployability of
  drones: A pioneering cooperation!”

The NIDV foundation is the primary link between the Netherlands’ defense and security industry and its government. It promotes the industry with regard to national and international contracts, including government tenders, and in national and international supply chains. The Netherlands Industries for Defence and Security is synonymous with the highest possible quality and effectiveness of equipment, services and application-oriented knowledge. NIDV is also a strategic partner of the government in the area of defense and security and a key figure in the triple helix collaboration between the government, knowledge institutes and the business community.