Program

Forsvarskonferansen – Nordic Defence and Security Conference will be held over two days, September 22–23, at Scandic Hell, Stjørdal. The program and speakers will be announced continuously in the lead-up to the conference. There will also be side events, follow-on events, and related activities.

Together with the Baltic states, the Nordic countries form NATO’s northern flank. This creates an operational and societal community that can represent a formidable strength, both militarily and civilian, if we are able to take the right actions.

The experiences from Ukraine after more than four years of war may provide valuable input for identifying the right measures. Combat power, will to defend, societal resilience, and the pace of innovation are key themes.

What is being done today, and what should we do? What are the right measures? How do we build a stronger Nordic community? What is NATO’s perspective, and what steps is the Armed Forces taking? How can we strengthen the link between industry and the Armed Forces, and how can we create value while also strengthening our society?

These are the questions we will address at Forsvarskonferansen – Nordic Defence and Security Conference. We will do so by combining high-level speakers, relevant side events, by creating a strong networking arena, and not least by profiling the segment of industry that can play a decisive role in operational capability and preparedness.

Tentative program

September 22

08:00–09:20 Registration, coffee, explore exhibition area

09:20–09:35 Opening/Introduction, Trøndelag County mayor, Thomas Ivar Hallem

09:35-09:55 A security policy briefing, Katarzyna Zysk, Professor, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies - IFS

09:55–11:00 Security and defence policy perspective

  • Peter Frølich, Chair of Norwegian Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence
  • Representative from Ukrainian authorities 
  • TBA

11:00–12:00 NATO and the Nordics, a military perspective

  • Frode Kristoffersen, Major General, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Allied Joint Force Command Norfolk in the United States
  • Gjermund Eide, Former Advisor to the NATO Secretary General
  • TBA

12:00–14:00 Lunch, explore exhibition area

14:00-15:00 Nordic military perspective

  • Frode Ommundsen, Major General, Head of Norwegian Home Guard
  • TBA
  • TBA

15:00-16:00 Academic and research perspective

  • Kenneth Ruud, Director General, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment - FFI
  • Tor Grande, Norwegian University of Science and Technology - NTNU
  • Lars Bo Larsen, Director of the National Defence Technology Centre - NFC

16:00-16:45 Afternoon break – buffet, explore exhibition area

16:45–18:00 Side events 

18:15–19:00 Keynote address by Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik

19:00– Networking dinner and mingling

20:00 Exhibitions are open until 20:00

September 23

08:00-08:30 Explore exhibition area
08:30–10:00 Defence industry / OEM / primes perspective

  • Lars Alstrup, Nordic Head of Mid-Corp Commercial Banking, Danske Bank
  • TBA
  • TBA
  • TBA

10:00–10:30 Morning break, explore exhibition area

10:30–11:50  Defence industry / SME perspective

  • Maja Solum, Ubiq Aerospace
  • Tevje Ravn Eggan, NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster
  • Representative from Ukraine manufacturer
  • TBA

11:50–12:00 Closing remarks

12:00– Lunch and departure

12:00–17:00 Following event

Following event: German-Norwegian Defence Dialogue 2026

Participants are invited to continue the discussions after Forsvarskonferansen – Nordic Defence and Security Conference by attending the German-Norwegian Defence Dialogue 2026, taking place on 23 September from 12:00–18:00 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Trondheim Airport, Stjørdal. (5 min walk)

Scheduled to begin immediately after the conclusion of Forsvarskonferansen, the German-Norwegian Defence Dialogue offers participants the opportunity to attend both events as part of a continuous programme dedicated to Nordic and European security, defence and industrial cooperation.

Please note that registration for the German-Norwegian Defence Dialogue is separate from Forsvarskonferansen.

Read more and register here.

Read more about the German Business Exploration Trip: Norwegian Defence Market 31.-24. September here.

September 24: Following events