Counter Terror Expo (CTX) and Forensics Europe Expo (FEE) are currently taking place alongside this year’s DSEI event at ExCeL, London.
DSEI is one of the largest trade shows held at the convention centre, and takes place with the support of the British government and the help of a heavy policing operation, which cost £2.4m when the event was last held in 2019.
With both returning key accounts and first-time exhibitor numbers reflecting the industry’s commitment to a return to live events, DSEI has already been delivering the most comprehensive iteration to date. CTX attracts attendees and exhibitors from across Europe, all of whom will have the opportunity to seek counter-terror business synergies with a wider pool of stakeholders attending DSEI across the Land, Naval, Aerospace, Joint, and Security domains.
“As a strategic counter-terror event with a global audience, large numbers of the CTX and FEE audience typically travel to the event from overseas,” Tracy Bebbington, Event Director, CTX and FEE, said. “We have decided that there is a strong cross-over audience between CTX and FEE and DSEI attendees that we could leverage to deliver three events side-by-side, enabling our attendees to take advantage of the business opportunities this will offer.”
A Red Arrows flypast opened the event yesterday lunchtime, reflecting the fact that the event is intended, according to officials, to “showcase Britain to the world”. This was accompanied by HMS Argyll which docked in the adjacent harbour, while a string of helicopters flew in.
Delivering his speech at DSEI’s opening, UK Strategic Commander General, Sir Patrick Sanders said: “When I last spoke here, in 2019, it was shortly before we launched Strategic Command. It’s been quite a journey, standing up the Command to drive the Integration and S&T agenda for Defence, but I think the fact that Multi-Domain Integration is the theme of DSEI this year shows that the imperative is well-recognised and our advocacy has been gaining some traction. Why should we care about Multi-domain integration? One word: Threat.”
He continued to say: “No doubt, UK Defence needs to become much more agile and forward leaning in this space; and, if I may, industry needs to take some risks too, in order to protect and promote SMEs, and by companies working alongside each other for the common good, where necessary.
“Acting together, we can mobilise our armed forces to pursue the political vision of a bold, confident and active European power with a global perspective. Armed forces that campaign dynamically, adapt to threats and seize opportunities to strengthen alliances, partnerships and secure national advantage. Working together we will ensure Defence is more closely integrated and modernised to deliver the IR and gaining advantage in science technology data and AI. And we can upskill our Armed Forces for the digital age.”
