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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Blue Venture Forum
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DTSTART:20250101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261027T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261028T183000
DTSTAMP:20261027T152505Z
CREATED:20260616T172734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261027T152505Z
UID:7931-1793109600-1793212200@blueventureforum.org
SUMMARY:Defense Investment Forum
DESCRIPTION:Defense Investment Forum \n\n\n\nBlue Innovation Defense Forum Agenda 2026-FINALDownload\n\n\n\nEnsuring Maritime Supremacy Through Innovation \n\n\n\nAttendee and Exhibitor Registration is Closed \n\n\n\nOpening Event & Welcome Reception\, University of Rhode Island (URI)\, Bay Campus \n\n\n\n2:00PM-6:30PM\, October 27 \n\n\n\nThe URI Bay Campus is home to URI’s highly acclaimed Department of Ocean Engineering and the Graduate School of Oceanography providing multiple opportunities to partner with faculty and students.  The newly opened 32\,000-square foot Ocean Robotics Laboratory (ORL) is a shared facility designed to develop\, test and deploy next-generation maritime technologies while the recently renovated Pier provides access for in-water field testing and validation.  \n\n\n\nThe campus is also home to the Ocean Technology Center\, a 10\,000- square foot business incubator and entrepreneurship hub.  \n\n\n\nJoin us for a fireside chat\, take a tour and wrap up the afternoon with a networking reception all while exploring ways to collaborate with the University of Rhode Island’s research and innovation community—from research partnerships and technology licensing to access to specialized facilities. \n\n\n\n2:00 PM – 2:15 PM Networking \n\n\n\n2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Welcome Remarks \n\n\n\nPete Rumsey\, Executive Director\, URI Research Foundation \n\n\n\n2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Fireside Chat\, tech commercialization at URI. \n\n\n\n3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Tour of URI Marine Robotics Laboratory and the Ocean Technology Center \n\n\n\n4:30 PM – 6:30 PM Networking Reception \n\n\n\nDefense Investment Forum ’26\, Wyndham Newport Hotel\, Middletown\, RI (Room Block Information Here) \n\n\n\n8:00AM-6:30PM\, October 28\, 2026 \n\n\n\nThe Defense Investment Forum is dedicated to exploring geopolitical developments\, emerging technologies\, and capital trends shaping the future of maritime defense. Bringing together investors\, naval and maritime industry leaders\, government stakeholders\, founders\, and strategic partners\, the forum serves as a platform for high-level discussion on emerging opportunities across autonomous systems\, subsea technologies\, maritime cybersecurity\, dual-use innovation\, ocean surveillance\, resilient supply chains\, and next-generation defense infrastructure. \n\n\n\nThrough keynote presentations\, investor panels\, startup showcases\, and strategic networking sessions\, the forum examines how geopolitical shifts\, naval modernization\, and the evolving security landscape are driving investment and innovation throughout the maritime defense ecosystem. \n\n\n\nRegistration is limited to participants from AUKUS countries (Australia\, United Kingdom\, and the United States) and Canada. \n\n\n\nAgenda  \n\n\n\n8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Registration & Networking Breakfast  \n\n\n\n9:00 AM – 9:10 AM Welcome Remarks & Conference Overview  \n\n\n\nMolly Magee\, CEO\, Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium (UTIC) \n\n\n\nToby Stapleton\, PhD\, Director\, Blue Venture Forum\, Inc. \n\n\n\n9:10 AM – 9:30 AM Opening Keynote \n\n\n\nUS Senator Jack Reed (RI)\, Ranking Member\, Senate Committee on Armed Services \n\n\n\n9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Speaker: The New Era of Maritime Competition \n\n\n\nThis keynote will explore how geopolitical rivalry\, contested sea lanes\, and rapid technological change are reshaping naval strategy and investment priorities. The session will examine the intersection of national security\, innovation\, and industrial capacity. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Gloria Berlanga\, Associate Vice President\, Business Development\, Defense Sector\, Rhode Island Commerce Corporation \n\n\n\n10:00 AM – 10:45 AM Panel Discussion: Below the Surface and Beyond the Norm: How Evolving Maritime Threats are Accelerating Ocean Tech Innovation \n\n\n\nPanel Description \n\n\n\nNational security challenges in the global commons are shifting faster than traditional naval procurement can handle. This panel explores the urgent geopolitical pressures that are forcing a new era of maritime defense. Panelists will discuss how these acute threats are driving rapid dual-use innovation and attendees will learn how military-industry partnerships are pivoting to deploy scalable\, attritable tech before adversarial capabilities outpace our situational awareness. \n\n\n\nModerator: Gloria Berlanga\, Associate Vice President\, Business Development\, Defense Sector\, Rhode Island Commerce \n\n\n\nPanelists: \n\n\n\nCommander David Brannighan\, Royal Navy\, British Defence Staff USA \n\n\n\nJames R. Holmes\, PhD\, Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy\, US Naval War College \n\n\n\nVic Ricci\, Principal Director\, USW Innovation and Strategic Alliances\, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport \n\n\n\nChris Weeks\, Director of Programs\, Saab\, Inc. \n\n\n\n10:45 AM – 11:15 AM Networking Break & Exhibit Hall Demos \n\n\n\n11:15 AM – 12:00 PM Panel Discussion: Rebuilding the Naval Industrial Base \n\n\n\nPanel Description \n\n\n\nNaval readiness increasingly depends on the resilience and scalability of the industrial base. This panel examines how our Navy can modernize maritime production capabilities while addressing workforce shortages\, supply chain vulnerabilities\, and aging infrastructure. \n\n\n\nModerator: Nate Walton\, Principal\, Sachem Strategies \n\n\n\nPanelists: \n\n\n\nDr. Aaron Birt\, CEO\, Solvus Global \n\n\n\nAndrew Bond\, Executive Director\, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) \n\n\n\nJohn Griffin\, VP Defense Strategy and Growth\, Edison Chouset Offshore Companies \n\n\n\n12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Networking Lunch     \n\n\n\n1:00 PM – 1:45 PM Keynote \n\n\n\nUS Congressman Gabe Amo (RI)\, Vice Ranking Member\, House Committee on Foreign Affairs\, House Committee on Science\, Space\, and Technology\, House Committee on the Budget \n\n\n\n1:15 PM – 2:00 PM Panel Discussion: Dual-Use Innovation: Bridging Commercial and Defense \n\n\n\nPanel Description \n\n\n\nCommercial technology companies are increasingly shaping the future of defense capability. This conversation explores how startups can successfully transition from commercial markets into national security applications while navigating procurement complexity\, regulatory constraints\, and operational requirements. \n\n\n\nModerator: Abbey Fabian\, Strategic Technology Teaming and Transitions Lead\, Raytheon \n\n\n\nPanelists: \n\n\n\nDaniel Ateya\, Managing Director\, RTX Ventures \n\n\n\nLeslie-Ann McGee\, Chief Innovation Officer\, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) \n\n\n\nNick Rotker\, Chief BlueTech Strategist\, MITRE Corp \n\n\n\nPete Rumsey\, Associate Vice President\, Economic Development Innovation & Entrepreneurship \n\n\n\n2:00 PM – 2:40 PM Flashtalk Presentations \n\n\n\nSelected startups will present their breakthrough technologies addressing naval operations\, logistics\, ISR\, cyber defense\, and autonomous systems. \n\n\n\n2:40 PM – 3:00 PM Networking Break \n\n\n\n3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Panel Discussion: Where Defense Capital Is Moving \n\n\n\nPanel Description \n\n\n\nInvestors across venture capital\, private equity\, sovereign wealth\, and institutional finance are rapidly increasing exposure to defense and strategic technologies. This session provides a market-level view of where capital is flowing\, valuation trends\, and which sectors are attracting the strongest interest. \n\n\n\nModerator: Hope Hopkins\, Executive Director\, New England Venture Capital Association \n\n\n\nPanelists: \n\n\n\nKyle Asman\, Managing Partner\, Backswing Ventures \n\n\n\nRyan Musto\, Principal\, 8090 Ventures \n\n\n\nMax Conway\, Partner\, Dyne Ventures \n\n\n\n3:45 PM – 4:30 PM Winning the Innovation Race at Sea \n\n\n\nSession Description \n\n\n\nThis discussion will synthesize the day’s themes into a roadmap for maintaining maritime superiority through technology\, industrial strength\, and strategic capital deployment. \n\n\n\nIt will focus on accelerating defense adoption cycles\, strengthening allied innovation ecosystems\, and building resilient maritime capabilities for the next decade. \n\n\n\nModerator: Lee Silvestre\, Senior Principal\, Venture Frontiers \n\n\n\nPanelists: \n\n\n\nTrevor Kelly-Bissonnette\, Director\, International Cooperation at NAVSEA Warfare Centers (NSWC/NUWC) (Ret.) \n\n\n\nMichelle Estaphan Owen\, Ocean Engineer\, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Newport \n\n\n\n4:30 PM – 5:15 PM The Importance of Innovation to the Fleet \n\n\n\nThe closing remarks will highlight the importance and power of innovation from the submarine fleet perspective and why it matters. \n\n\n\nSpeaker: Captain Kevin Behm\, Commanding Officer\, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport \n\n\n\n5:15 PM – 6:30 PM Cocktail Reception & Tech Mixer \n\n\n\nTo register as an exhibitor see below
URL:https://blueventureforum.org/event/defense-investment-forum/
LOCATION:Wyndham Newport Hotel\, 240 Aquidneck\, Middletown\, Rhode Island\, 02842\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20270308T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270310T170000
DTSTAMP:20260911T111329Z
CREATED:20260911T111323Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260911T111329Z
UID:7957-1804492800-1804698000@blueventureforum.org
SUMMARY:Blue Innovation Symposium
DESCRIPTION:Registration opening soon \n\n\n\n\n\nRegistration Opening Soon
URL:https://blueventureforum.org/event/blue-innovation-symposium/
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