The conference opened with insightful keynotes from Ruben Brekelmans, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, and Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Guided with expertise by Munish Khurana of EUROCONTROL, their contributions framed an inspiring vision for Europe’s path toward autonomous systems.
Minster Brekelmans underscored how the Netherlands is stepping up as driving force in European security by fast-tracking drone innovation, from defense applications to dual-use solutions. Siemons shared his vision of digitally transformed Port of Rotterdam where smart systems and autonomous drones seamlessly work together, contributing to make Europe’s supply chains more efficient and resilient.
On a high-level panel, Neeraj Bansal, Chief Revenue Officer of HHLA Sky, explored with participants how drones secure critical infrastructure, streamline port processes and advance not only efficiency but also economic and environmental sustainability.
The summit themes also extend beyond ports, including:
Maritime & subsea autonomy securing critical infrastructure
Air & space #autonomy connecting navigation and real-time data
Policy & ecosystem strategies to move to autonomy and scale
On day two at Innovation Dock, these themes came to life. Real applications from Hamburg Port Authority, HHLA Sky and other pioneering players showcased how Europe’s drone ecosystem is creating tangible impacts within working port environments.
DroneHorizon 2025 have demonstrated a strong commitment to shaping Europe’s autonomous future by bringing together seaports, industry leaders, and policymakers into one interconnected ecosystem. As Minister Brekelmans emphasized, moving forward will require speed, agility, and close cooperation between government, industry, and science.
A big thank you to our partners at Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) for making this year’s showcase a success.
