ROTTERDAM, the Netherlands /1 July 2025
On 4 September 2025, Rotterdam becomes the focal point for Europe’s autonomous and unmanned future with the launch of DroneHorizon 2025: Accelerating Autonomous and Unmanned Systems in Europe’s Critical Domains. This high-level summit is dedicated to advancing strategic and digital autonomy, resilience, and cross-border innovation in ports and critical infrastructure. This inaugural event is brought to life by a powerhouse alliance: DronePort Rotterdam, Port of Rotterdam, The Beacon and Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and Hamburg Port Authority.
Meeting Europe’s Moment: Why DroneHorizon Now
Europe faces unprecedented geopolitical shifts, accelerating technological disruption, and
rising security challenges across its critical domains. In this context, DroneHorizon 2025 serves
as a strategic platform where strategic and digital autonomy and resilience are realised not
only in policy but in practice. The summit unites decision-makers from industry, government,
defence, and technology, transforming Europe’s largest ports and its ecosystems into trusted
gateways for innovation and cooperation.
Strategy Into Action: A New Model for Europe
Europe faces unprecedented geopolitical shifts, accelerating technological disruption, and
rising security challenges across its critical domains. In this context, DroneHorizon 2025 serves
as a strategic platform where strategic and digital autonomy and resilience are realised not
only in policy but in practice. The summit unites decision-makers from industry, government,
defence, and technology, transforming Europe’s largest ports and its ecosystems into trusted
gateways for innovation and cooperation.
From Dialogue to Demonstration: Showcasing Impact
Turning vision into reality, DroneHorizon partners will demonstrate advanced solutions and
real-world use cases at the Innovation Dock on 5 September, as part of Rotterdam’s World
Port Days (5–7 September). This 2,000 m² expo, at the heart of one of Europe’s largest
maritime events, connects emerging technologies and talent with professional and public
visitors.
DRONEHORIZON PRESS RELEASE
Europe’s Largest Ports and Innovation Ecosystems Launch
DroneHorizon 2025: Advancing Strategic and Digital Autonomy and Resilience
POWERED BY:
A Program Built on Four Strategic Themes
Industry: Creating operational value with autonomous and unmanned systems: from AIpowered
logistics to predictive maintenance for vital infrastructure.
Public Safety: Advancing emergency response, crisis management, and civil protection
through real-time, autonomous platforms.
Defence: Strengthening both civil and military resilience through dual-use innovation,
scenario-driven collaboration, and governance.
Governing the Future of Autonomy: Enabling responsible, scalable adoption through
policy, digital infrastructure, and public-private partnerships.
A European Platform for Collective Resilience
DroneHorizon is more than an event – it is the launchpad for Europe’s operational and digital
resilience, ensuring that critical domains remain competitive, secure, and future-proof. This
multi-year platform will continue at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges (2026) and the Port of Hamburg
(2027), reinforcing the shared ambition to position Europe as a global leader in autonomous
and unmanned systems.
A Call to Partners
DroneHorizon 2025 welcomes industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers ready to drive
the next wave of European innovation. For tickets, programme details, and partnership
opportunities, visit: www.dronehorizon.org.
About DroneHorizon
DroneHorizon is an international B2B summit dedicated to advancing autonomous and
unmanned systems (AUS) in critical domains. Organised by DronePort Rotterdam, the Port of
Rotterdam, The Beacon and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and Hamburg Port Authority,
DroneHorizon brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to discuss
challenges, opportunities, share knowledge, and forge strategic partnerships.
Rotating in 2025, 2026, and 2027 between Europe’s leading port cities, the event serves as a
meeting ground for those changing the future of port and other critical domain innovation. With
a programme featuring keynotes, panels, and exhibition, DroneHorizon drives strategic
collaboration, supports the responsible integration of AUS, and underlines the importance of
digital autonomy and resilience in Europe and beyond.