Interview with Mr. R.H. (Rob) van Dort, Business Development Manager, NIDV Foundation

Mr. R.H. (Rob) van Dort, Business Development Manager, NIDV (The Netherlands Industries for Defence & Security) Foundation, gave an exclusive interview to Epicos regarding the 29th NIDV Symposium and Exhibition. Among others, he stated that: “The event offers the possibility to meet a large network of Defence professionals looking for business opportunities. The annual NIDV Symposium & Exhibition is the only comprehensive happening for industry, politics, government agencies and knowledge institutes in the Benelux with a focus on defence and security. All of those in the business or looking to join the business will be there”.  

On November 30th 2017 the NIDV is organising the 29th Symposium & Exhibition in Rotterdam. Can you please give us more information on this event?    

The annual NIDV Symposium & Exhibition is a unique event for professionals that covers the entire field of defence and security. 

The event consists of two main parts, a symposium with conference presentations (including the Director of the Dutch Police Service Centre PDC (all Police equipment, IT, services), Gerrit den Uyl, the Deputy Director-General for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Pierre Delsaux and the CEO of Fokker, future CEO of GKN Aerospace, Hans Büthker) and an exhibition with booths of Dutch and international companies as well as government organizations, including the Dutch MoD, NATO, Defence Materiel Organisation, Security Services, Security Region, Firebrigades, Coast Guard, National Police Corps and more.

 

The focus of this year’s Symposium & Exhibition is “Adaptivity is essential to public security”. Can you please elaborate on this concept?  

Citizens and businesses have a legitimate interest in safeguarding public security, even though this is generally regarded as a task for the government. It is expected that the military, the police, the fire brigade, the ambulance service, the coast guard and other public security organizations have an appropriate response in the event of an emergency.
    
Our national security is inseparable from the developments around us. Although borders may no longer exist, security is still a question of sovereignty. Technology is developing exponentially and is becoming more and more accessible to a bigger group. Hence, our opponents have access to the latest technology. There seem to be few limitations to getting these tools. However, our government depends on various rules, which means that it takes some time for new technology to become available to our security organizations. Furthermore, industry is becoming increasingly international. In spite of that, the government tries to maintain its influence on the defence and security industry. European developments are also proceeding rapidly.

In short: security is becoming more and more complex.
    
During the NIDV Symposium, representatives of government and industry will give their opinions on the ability of our public security organizations to adapt and a large number of companies will show their potential. Security organizations and businesses will comment on important security issues during the breakout sessions.

 

How many participants are you expecting this year?

Over the years the NIDV Symposium and Exhibition has seen a constant growth in the number of international as well as Dutch attendees. In 2017 the foreign participants are expected to represent around 30% of the total entities attending the event. We expect to host about 100 exhibitors.

Can you please describe the profile of the NIDV’s Symposium & Exhibition participant?  

The annual NIDV Symposium & Exhibition is the leading meeting point for those interested in conducting business in the field of defence and security in the Netherlands. All those involved, either directly or indirectly, in the purchase and sale of products and services attend the exhibition. 

Industry participants join the event because they are interested in contacts with representatives of Dutch and international Defence and Civil Security Forces, as well as with other industries.

What are the main benefits a company may have by participating in the event?  

The main benefit is the possibility to meet a large network of Defence professionals looking for business opportunities. The annual NIDV Symposium & Exhibition is the only comprehensive event for industry, politics, government agencies and knowledge institutes in the Benelux with a focus on defence and security. All of those in the business or looking to join the business will be there.

The participation to the Symposium & Exhibition offers companies a unique opportunity to identify strategic partners with whom collaboration is necessary to procure orders and, in particular, partial orders.

 

Is the NIDV Symposium APP going to be available to participants also this year? Can you please highlight the advantages this application offer?  

This year we start with a new NIDV Symposium APP, which we have developed in cooperation with Crowdcompass.  This APP is available to all registered visitors and it has all the important information and features you'll need to enhance your event experience e.g. program, side sessions in the afternoon, participants, maps of the building, tradeshow, hotels, etc. In addition to the functionalities of our previous App, it also allows you to exchange messages with other attendees and make appointments with them.

 

Is there anything else that that you would like to add?  

Additional information and registration can be found on www.nidv.eu/en/.