MS&D Conference

History and origin

MS&D has been held at each edition of SMM since the early 2000s, growing steadily from a side symposium into a standalone two-day programme. The involvement of the German Navy Command (Marinekommando) and the DMI gave the event institutional credibility beyond a trade-floor panel. A mid-cycle "MS&D Special" was introduced in 2025 to sustain community engagement between the biennial main editions, reflecting growing demand for a permanent forum on European naval readiness.

The 2026 edition: Maritime Security in a Rapidly Changing World

The 2026 MS&D Conference runs under the theme "Maritime Security and Defence in a Rapidly Changing World". Confirmed keynote speakers include Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, Germany's National Armaments Director, and Vice Admiral Axel Deertz, Deputy Inspector of the Navy and Commander of the Fleet. Moderated expert panels will address the operational readiness of European naval forces, necessary capability enhancements, and regulations for procurement and civil technology transfer. Topics also cover the underwater domain, IT, cyber, and space aspects of maritime security, and manned and unmanned systems.

The MS&D Expo component runs across all four days of SMM (1-4 September) in Hall B8, while the conference sessions on the central Naval Stage are concentrated on days 3 and 4.

Where MS&D sits in the defence calendar

MS&D is unique in combining a major maritime trade fair platform with a focused defence policy conference. Its biennial rhythm, tied to SMM, places it between EURONAVAL (Paris, even years) and DSEI (London, odd years) in the European naval calendar. The Hamburg slot in early September provides proximity to German and NATO procurement cycles and benefits from the 48,000-visitor attendance of SMM 2024, ensuring broad civil-maritime exposure alongside military delegations.

Who attends MS&D

The conference targets high-ranking representatives from EU institutions, national defence ministries and organisations, and procurement authorities. Naval officers, armaments directors, and coast guard leadership attend alongside prime contractors, tier-2 suppliers, and specialist SMEs from the maritime security and defence sector. Civil maritime stakeholders, including shipyards and equipment manufacturers seeking technology transfer opportunities, are also present, making MS&D one of the few events where naval procurement and commercial shipping genuinely intersect.

What the MS&D format includes

The event consists of two parallel elements. The MS&D Expo occupies dedicated exhibition space in Hall B8 throughout all four days of SMM, providing continuous access to naval-relevant exhibitors. The MS&D Conference occupies the central Naval Stage in Hall B8 on days 3 and 4, running moderated expert panels, keynote addresses, and audience Q&A. The Naval Stage format allows attendees to move fluidly between conference sessions and the adjacent expo floor. Protocol services for naval delegations are managed by a dedicated team at Hamburg Messe.

What MS&D covers

Key thematic pillars for 2026:

• Europe's maritime capabilities and operational readiness
• Maritime warfare requirements and fleet modernisation
• The underwater domain (submarine, mine countermeasure, UUV)
• IT, cyber, and space aspects of maritime security
• Manned and unmanned systems (USV, UUV, UAV)
• Civil-military technology transfer and dual-use innovation
• Procurement regulations and security of supply

The 2026 edition in numbers (organiser-declared)

The venue: Hamburg Messe, Hall B8

Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH, Messeplatz 1, 20357 Hamburg, Germany. The exhibition centre is located in the heart of Hamburg, approximately 4 km from Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (central station), served by S-Bahn lines S3/S31 (Dammtor or Sternschanze stops) and direct U-Bahn connections. Hamburg Airport (HAM) is approximately 20 minutes by S-Bahn. Hall B8 hosts the Naval Hub, combining the Naval Stage conference auditorium with the adjacent MS&D Expo floor. The full SMM site covers approximately 90,000 m2 across twelve halls and an outdoor area.

The organiser: Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH / DMI

Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH is the organiser of SMM and the parent entity responsible for MS&D. It is a public-private trade fair company operating the Hamburg Messe centre. The Deutsches Maritimes Institut (DMI), the scientific and academic partner, provides programme content and institutional credibility. Mittler Report, a leading German defence media brand, serves as media partner and contributes editorial direction to the conference programme. The German Navy's Marinekommando provides official endorsement and facilitates naval delegation participation.

First time at MS&D? How to prepare

• Register early via SMM. Admission to MS&D is through the SMM ticketing system; day tickets often sell out for peak days. Secure your pass as soon as registration opens on the SMM website.
• Prioritise the Naval Stage on days 3 and 4. The MS&D Conference (3-4 September) is when senior speakers and high-level panels are scheduled. Plan your SMM itinerary around these two days if naval security is your primary focus.
• Use MariMatch before arriving. SMM's pre-registered B2B matchmaking tool lets you book meetings with exhibitors and other attendees in advance. Set up your profile and send meeting requests at least two weeks before the event.
• Explore Hall B8 as your base. The Naval Hub concentrates the MS&D Expo, the Naval Stage, and navy-adjacent exhibitors in one hall. Start here for orientation, then use SMM's Security and Defence Theme Route to find related stands in other halls.
• Business attire is standard; military dress codes vary by delegation. Civilian attendees wear business professional. Many naval delegations attend in uniform. Both are common on the floor and at the conference.
• Subscribe to MS&D eNews. The free newsletter publishes speaker announcements, programme previews, and exhibitor news in the run-up to the event, giving you advance intelligence on what to prioritise.