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.

Program

September 22

08:00–09:15 Registration, coffee, explore exhibition area

09:15–09:35 Opening/Introduction, Trøndelag County mayor, Thomas Ivar Hallem

09:35-09:55 Strategic development and the reshaping of European and transatlantic security

  • Katarzyna Zysk, Professor, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies - IFS

09:55–11:05 The future of Ukraine is our future - a political perspective

  • Ine Eriksen Søreide, Leader, Conservative Party (Høyre)
  • Gavrysh Oleksiy, Ukraine's Ambassador to Norway
  • Ivan Fedorov, Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration and Chief of Regional Military Administration - Participating digitally

11:05–12:00 Tempo in military acquisition: What can be done and how can the Nordic/Baltic acquisition agencies team up? Norway’s new Defence Industry Strategi – where are we going?

  • Øyvind Johan Kvalvik, Deputy Director General, FMA
  • Torleiv Opland, CEO, FSI
  • TBA

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

14:00-15:00 What are the Nordic military requirements, and what are the expectations for civil/military cooperation? How can we increase speed in boosting operational capacity?

  • Mattias Ardin, Major General, Commander of Swedish Home Guard
  • Gunner Arpe Nielsen, Major General, Commander of Danish Home Guard
  • Frode Ommundsen, Major General, Head of Norwegian Home Guard

15:00-16:00 Defence development across the Nordic region – A research and innovation 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, semiannual report by Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik

19:00– Networking dinner and mingling, bar opening

20:00 Exhibitions are open until 20:00

September 23

08:00-08:30 Explore exhibition area
08:30–10:00 The vacation is over. What must be changed to speed up acquisition, innovation and to build a more resilient supply chain. 

  • Birger Steen, CEO NORSAR and GARDAR
  • Cato Giil Eliassen, Vice President Infrastructure, Kongsberg Discovery
  • Lars Alstrup, Nordic Head of Advisory Banking - Business Customers at Danske Bank
  • Anders Brun, Managing Director of Strategy at PwC

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

10:30–11:40  How can SME’s be a key factor when developing new solutions, better readiness and stronger resilience? What are the takeaways from Ukraine?

  • Maja Solum, Ubiq Aerospace
  • Tevje Ravn Eggan, NORDSEC Nordic Defence and Security Cluster
  • Mykyta Rozhkov, CBDO, Frontline Robotics
  • Denys Horielov, International Partnerships Manager, Ukrainian Council of Defence industry

11:40-11:55: What did Radionor do to succeed and what should be changed to make the path easier?

  • Raymond Søderholm, CEO, Radionor Communications

11:55–12:00 Safe trip home and welcome next year

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