IMDEX Asia 2023

12/05/202320/05/2023 Paolo Valpolini

Navy, Coast Guard, Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies and industries’ representatives gathered together from 3-5 May 2023, at the Singapore Changi Exhibition Centre, where IMDEX Asia 2023, the International Maritime Defence Exhibition, was back after a four-year interruption due to the pandemic.

The exhibition halls hosted the main players in the naval domain, active in the key domains such as platforms, weapon systems, command and control, unmanned systems acquiring an increasing importance in the overall naval scenario.

Beside the systems display, some 22 naval vessels from 13 different countries lined up in Singapore and were visited by many delegations and visitors.

The venue also hosted the International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC), which saw the participation of over 40 delegations that included high ranking officers from Navies, Coast Guards and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies. The IMSC aims at promoting mutual understanding and collaboration in the Asia Pacific region.

For the first time IMDEX Asia organised the Innovation Challenge at What’s Next, a strategic platform for aspiring start-ups to showcase their revolutionary innovations on a global stage. Conceived in partnership with Starburst, the world’s first and only global aerospace and defence start-up accelerator and strategic advisory practice, it aimed at identifying the most promising start-ups working on solutions in four problem statements in areas of artificial intelligence, ship operations, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and sustainability. Eight start-ups from Australia, Canada, Finland, Israel, Singapore, Switzerland and the USA were selecteted. During IMDEX Asia 2023 they proposed their solutions to a panel of judges comprising of senior naval stakeholders.