As the Norwegian Minister of Defense, Tore O. Sandvik, stated on the stage in Stjørdal this week: “To avoid war, you have to prepare for war.”
The conference gathered more than 800 participants, making it one of the largest defense events in the Nordic region.
GCE NODE and the Future Defense Industry South (FFS) project were present, represented by project manager Tina McDougall, who followed the discussions closely and engaged with key stakeholders.
“Bringing together Nordic defense staffs, academia, policymakers and industry, the conference is an essential place to build relations, share insights and learn from each other. The Trøndelag region takes a proactive and inspiring approach to its defense-related work,” says McDougall.
Speakers at the conference repeatedly emphasized that ambition and technological development are accelerating, while the supply chain struggles to keep pace. “Speed is of the essence. We need to cooperate,” was a recurring message from industry and defense leaders.
Professor Katarzyna Zysk from the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies highlighted four essential requirements for modern security: speed, resilience, endurance and cohesion. “We must be able to adapt quickly, sustain operations over time and stand together with clear collective resilience,” she said.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Conservative Party leader Ine Eriksen Søreide reflected on NATO’s long-term posture. “For years, NATO policy has been shaped as a reaction to Russia rather than by our own strategic choices,” she said. She also warned of the danger if war begins to feel like a new normal.
State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson stressed that preparedness can no longer rely solely on stockpiles. “Conflicts evolve quickly, and time must increasingly be measured in weeks rather than months or years,” he said. While ammunition requires large reserves, he noted that front-line drone capabilities depend on rapid development and adaptation.
Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency reinforced the importance of tempo, industrial capacity and early cooperation. “Industrial strategy is also security strategy,” they stated, pointing to the growing relevance of dual-use technologies.
Kenneth Ruud, Director General at Norwegian Defense Research Establishment, summarized the challenge: “Technology alone does not create defense capability. The winner will be the one who can most rapidly convert technology into operational effects.”
