2026 EURONAVAL conference
Maritime Superiority : The Quantum and Artificial Intelligence Shift
In cooperation with
How quantum and AI redefine technologies and maritime operations — above, on and below the surface
TUESDAY 13th JANUARY 2026
SQUARE BRUSSELS
8:30 - 9:00
Welcome coffee
Networking // Posters & presentations
9:00 - 9:15
Welcome speech
HANSON Stephen
Interoperability and Standardization Officer
NATO
09:15 - 09:45
SETTING THE SCENE
Vision for employing Quantum (logic) and trusted Artificial Intelligence – Enabled Maritime Operations and Technology
SOUSA João
Professor
FEUP – University of Porto
SEPULVEDA Johanna
Senior Expert Quantum-secured communications / Technical Domain Manager Quantum
AIRBUS DEFENCE & SPACE
MERVEILLEUX DU VIGNAUX Guillaume
Exhibition Director
EURONAVAL
9:45 – 10:30
Advanced geospatial and insitu data processing capabilities to enhance maritime surveillance and security operations
This panel will explore cutting-edge capabilities in maritime surveillance and security operations, focusing on real-time monitoring and change detection. Experts will highlight the role of AI, quantum-informed sensing, and robotics in enhancing situational awareness.
SLIJKHUIS Martin
Chairman Droneport Rotterdam Foundation
DRONE PORT ROTTERDAM
GATEPAILLE Sylvain
Senior Expert Information Fusion & Data Analytics
AIRBUS DEFENCE & SPACE
VERLINDEN Chris
CTO
APPLIED OCEAN SCIENCES
BZOWSKI Julien
VP Strategy
SAFRAN AI
NEDJAR Rachid
Head of Marketing
UNSEENLABS
HERVY François
Head of Advanced Studies & Project Development – Foresight and Future Applications
THALES ALENIA SPACE
10:30 - 11:15
Maritime collaborative autonomy to support the collection, visualization and analysis of data
The discussion will examine how collaborative autonomy can support the collection, visualization, and analysis of maritime data. Emphasis will be placed on trusted AI, edge processing, and quantum navigation to enable secure and adaptive unmanned operations.
COELHO Emanuel
Chief scientist
APPLIED OCEAN SCIENCES
BRIZARD Tamara
Product Strategy
ARKEOCEAN
SOUSA João
Professor
FEUP – University of Porto
VOLUT Mikaël
CEO
AEGIR
W. LINDBERG Frida
Business Director
SAAB
11:15 - 11:45
Coffee break
Networking // Posters & presentations
11:45 – 12:30
Dual use tools for environmental assessment and risks management
This panel will address technologies for monitoring pollution, biodiversity, and climate change impacts on ocean ecosystems. Speakers will showcase the value of quantum-enhanced modeling, sensors, and collaborative robotics for Digital Ocean monitoring.
WICHOWSKI Keith
Chief Technologist and Product Strategist
ENTANGLEMENT
WENDT Jann
CEO
NORTH.IO
PEARCE Nathaniel
Chief Operating Officer
S2IX
BEGUERY Laurent
Scientific director
ALSEAMAR-ALCEN
12:30 - 14:00
Lunch cocktail
Networking // Posters & presentations
14:00 – 14:45
Developped systems for monitoring and protecting CUI from potential threats
The session will focus on innovative approaches to secure and protect critical undersea infrastructure from emerging threats. Topics will include cyber resilience, trusted autonomy, and advanced sensing for early anomaly detection.
VALENTI Alix
Freelance Defence Journalist
SOUSA João
Professor
FEUP – University of Porto
TURNER Jason
Chairman and CEO
ENTANGLEMENT
EVJEN HOVSTEIN Vegard
CEO
MARITIME ROBOTICS
VIVARES Vincent
Chief executive officer
SIREHNA
14:45 – 15:30
Interconnected underwater devices to support defence and environmental monitoring
This panel will discuss the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) and its applications for defence and environmental monitoring. Experts will explore interoperability standards, secure quantum communication, and AI-enhanced localization for resilient underwater networks.
FRIEDRICH Gernot
Head of the Interoperability and Standardization Section within the Cyber and Digital Transformation Division
NATO
HEANEY Kevin
CEO
APPLIED OCEAN SCIENCES
MESS Frithjof
Head of Navy Operations
EVOLOGICS
L'HER Christophe
Site Manager
SERCEL
15:30 - 16:00
Coffee break
Networking // Posters & presentations
16:00 - 16:45
Create realistic maritime training and simulation environments
The session will present new methods to design realistic training environments that prepare operators for complex maritime contexts. Quantum-inspired simulations and immersive visualization tools will be highlighted as enablers of next-generation skills development.
CALABRO Salvatore
Captain (N), Head of Advice Branch, Office of the Chief Scientist, NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO)
NATO STO-OCS - Advice Branch Head
BENSOUSSAN Jean-Benoît
Sales & Strategy Manager
DASSAULT
TAP Kristian
VP of solutions
TEKLE HOLOGRAPHICS
ØIE Håvar
Senior Sales Director
MARITIME ROBOTICS
16:45 - 17:00
Closing speech
ALVES João
Principal scientist / Programme Manager
NATO STO CMRE
17:00 - 18:00
Closing cocktail
Posters & presentations