2026 Defense Investment Forum
Date
October 27
Organization
Format
In-Person
Location
Middletown, RI
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About
The opening program at the University of Rhode Island Bay Campus focuses on technology commercialization at URI, including a fireside chat, a tour of the URI Marine Robotics Laboratory and Ocean Technology Center, and collaboration opportunities involving research partnerships, technology licensing, and specialized facilities. The main forum examines geopolitical developments, emerging technologies, and capital trends shaping maritime defense. Topics include autonomous systems, subsea technologies, maritime cybersecurity, dual-use innovation, ocean surveillance, resilient supply chains, and next-generation defense infrastructure. Sessions cover “The New Era of Maritime Competition”; “Below the Surface and Beyond the Norm: How Evolving Maritime Threats are Accelerating Ocean Tech Innovation”; “Rebuilding the Naval Industrial Base”; “Dual-Use Innovation: Bridging Commercial and Defense”; startup presentations addressing naval operations, logistics, ISR, cyber defense, and autonomous systems; “Where Defense Capital Is Moving”; and “Winning the Innovation Race at Sea.” Discussion themes include geopolitical rivalry, contested sea lanes, naval strategy, scalable and attritable technology, workforce shortages, supply-chain vulnerabilities, aging infrastructure, procurement complexity, regulatory constraints, operational requirements, defense investment, accelerated adoption cycles, allied innovation ecosystems, and resilient maritime capabilities. The event is open to the general public and held at the Distribution A level. It is jointly sponsored and produced by UTIC and Blue Venture Forum.
Speakers(23)
CEO, Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium (UTIC)
Director, Blue Venture Forum, Inc.
Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Armed Services
Associate Vice President, Business Development, Defense Sector, Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Principal Director, USW Innovation and Strategic Alliances, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport
Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy, US Naval War College
Director of Programs, Saab, Inc.
Principal, Sachem Strategies
Executive Director, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology
CEO, Solvus Global
VP Defense Strategy and Growth, Edison Chouset Offshore Companies
Strategic Technology Teaming and Transitions Lead, Raytheon
Executive Director, URI Research Foundation; Associate Vice President, Economic Development Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Chief Innovation Officer, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
Executive Director, RTX Ventures
Chief BlueTech Strategist, MITRE
Executive Director, New England Venture Capital Association
Principal, 8090 Ventures
Partner, Dyne Ventures
Managing Partner, Backswing Ventures
Senior Principal, Venture Frontiers
Ocean Engineer, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport
Director, International Cooperation at NAVSEA Warfare Centers (NSWC/NUWC) (Ret.)
Topics
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