Europe’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) community has convened at the HungExpo in Budapest, Hungary, for GSOF Symposium Europe. The event features three days of networking and knowledge-sharing about the requirements and technologies underpinning future SOF capabilities in Europe.
The Symposium opens with a government-only seminar and the launch of the B2B Speed Networking event, where pre-registered organisations will have the opportunity to foster new business partnerships through short and professionally-matched meetings.
Key sessions in the Symposium Theatre include:
- Welcome remarks: Stu Bradin, President and CEO, Global SOF Foundation;
- Opening remarks: Lieutenant General Zsolt Sándor, the Deputy Commander of Hungarian Defence Forces, who sets the scene from a Hungarian perspective;
- Keynote speech: Jim Smith, Acquisition Executive at Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, U.S. Special Operations Command, shares key processes, lessons learned, and SOF-specific funding in the U.S.;
- Panel session: Impact of SOF Funding on Operational Commanders;
- Panel session: A Perspective on Joint Acquisition for Composite-SOCC;
- Panel session: NATO SOF Funding: NSPA vs. Gov-to-Gov and the Need for a European Defence Fund for Research and Development.
For the first time at GSOF Symposium Europe, the 2022 event features a Disruptive Technology (DisTec) theatre, where speakers will explore cutting-edge solutions and technological breakthroughs with the potential to re-shape the future of SOF worldwide. Presentations will cover a range of topics, including autonomous systems and countermeasures, C4 ISR, data analytics, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), exhibitor innovation showcase, ISTAR and resilient communications.
On the exhibition show floor companies from around the globe have lined-up to show their latest product and services designed to support SOF missions across the air, land and sea domains.
Among others, new products are being launched by Continest Technologies and JFD, while advanced soldier equipment will be on display in Gentex Corporation’s headborne system solutions, NFM Group’s Full Spectrum Protection range, and Thermoteknix’s uncooled thermal imaging technology. Troposcatter and tactical SATCOM will be on show from Comtech, Lilt will be showcasing its adaptive language translation technology, and MAG Aerospace will have a range of capabilities including C5ISR engineering and integration services on display; while Task Force Antal will put its non-profit humanitarian action work in the spotlight.
The European SOF community is a close-knit group, all super focused on the requirements of the region’s SOF, whether they are advanced operators, still in the process of building capability, or planning to do so in the near future.
GSOF Symposium Europe offers a unique platform for our members to come together and source the elements that will enable them to meet future challenges, whether that be via making valuable business connections, learning from those further along the road, or getting hands-on with the technologies that make their jobs possible.
It is great to welcome all attendees to our biggest GSOF Europe yet, and I look forward to three days of productive discussion and networking here in Budapest.
Stu Bradin, President and CEO, Global SOF Foundation
The Global SOF Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims to build and grow an international network of military, government, commercial and educational stakeholders in order to advance SOF capabilities and partnerships to confront global and networked threats.