Exploring Tomorrow’s Security Challenges
The GSIS programme is deliberately interdisciplinary and international in scope. At its core are the major questions of our time:
– How can we safeguard critical infrastructure and supply chains in a fragmented world?
– What role does artificial intelligence play in defence?
– And how can digital sovereignty be achieved in the face of growing cyber threats?
Among the many distinguished speakers offering insights are Lieutenant General Michael Vetter, Chief Information Officer at the German Ministry of Defence, who will examine the opportunities and risks of AI-powered defence solutions, and Lieutenant General Frank Leidenberger, CEO of BWI, who will focus on the evolving landscape of cybersecurity.
Gayle Chan from Singapore brings an international perspective as Deputy Chief Executive (Information) of the Defence Science and Technology Agency, showcasing new approaches to defence innovation. Robert Friedland, founder of Ivanhoe Capital, will discuss the geopolitical significance of critical raw materials, while Dr Sergey Lagodinsky, Member of the European Parliament, will address digital sovereignty and global competition in cloud infrastructure.
Dr Michael Diederich, Global Co-Head of the Corporate Bank of Deutsche Bank, and Florence Parly, Chair of the Board of Directors of Air France-KLM Group, Trustee of the IISS and Member of the IISS Advisory Council, will discuss strategic financing for innovation and security. Additionally, Thomas Falck, Managing Partner of Polarion, and Max Buechner, CEO of the Speer Group, will delve into the role of private equity for innovation.
“For the Global Security and Innovation Summit, we have curated a conference programme that places the defining issues of our time centre stage,” says Dimitrios Argirakos, Executive Chair of GSIS. “Our agenda brings together international thought leaders whose expertise and experience offer fresh perspectives on the challenges of innovation and security.”
Hamburg as a Hub for Innovation and Security
With high-profile keynotes, interactive plenary sessions, a start-up accelerator programme, and a dedicated exhibition, GSIS offers a dynamic platform for exchange among leaders, innovators, and changemakers. The goal is to collaboratively develop solutions for a resilient and forward-looking future, and to make Hamburg the epicentre of strategic and technological discourse for two days.
“Hamburg stands for openness, innovation, and international cooperation. Hosting the inaugural GSIS here underscores the city’s role as a hub for future-focused dialogue on security and technology,” says Heiko M. Stutzinger, CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress and one of the summit’s organising partners, alongside the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
From AI to Resilience: The Agenda of Change
Dr Bastian Giegerich, Director-General and Chief Executive of IISS, also emphasizes the range of topics addressed at GSIS: “The Global Security and Innovation Summit brings a broad spectrum of security and innovation policy issues to the stage – from geopolitical risks and technological disruption to questions of resilience and financing. This diversity reflects the complex challenges of our time.”
For further information, the full agenda, and registration details, please visit: https://www.gsis-hamburg.com
About GSIS – Global Security and Innovation Summit
GSIS is designed not only as an annual summit, but as a year-round platform for strategic dialogue. Alongside the main event in Hamburg, regional satellite events are planned at IISS locations around the world, and digital engagement formats will provide continuous opportunities for exchange between summits. GSIS will take place at the CCH – Congress Center Hamburg on 22 and 23 October 2025.
About the International Institute for Strategic Studies
The Global Security and Innovation Summit builds on the strengths of its organising partners. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is a globally respected defence and security think tank with deep expertise in regional geopolitics and geo-economics. It is known for convening high-level forums such as the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue (Asia), the IISS Manama Dialogue (Middle East), and the IISS Prague Defence Summit (Europe). Its team of international researchers provides policy-relevant analysis to governments and the private sector.
About Hamburg Messe und Congress
Hamburg Messe und Congress (HMC), based in Germany’s second-largest city, is one of Europe’s leading organisers of global events. Its congress and trade fair facilities host industry-defining exhibitions and summits across sectors. The topic of global security has been a permanent feature of its portfolio for more than sixty years – especially in connection with the world’s leading maritime trade fair SMM and the International Conference on Maritime Security and Defence (MS&D).
