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Hamburg gets a security summit

March 7, 2025

A new summit focusing on security policy and technology will be added to the event calendar of Hamburg Messe und Congress (HMC) from October.

This was announced today by HMC and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The aim of the Global Security and Innovation Summit (GSIS) is to create a joint platform for international decision-makers and experts to discuss the growing number of security policy challenges and develop innovative solutions. The first event will take place for the first time on October 22 and 23, 2025 at the CCH – Congress Center Hamburg.

Summit offers interdisciplinary dialog

At a time when disruptive developments and the emergence of innovative technologies are having a profound impact on the global security architecture, the event is dedicated to the question of how international security can be continuously guaranteed and expanded in the face of these changes. The GSIS will address this broad topic and develop answers for an increasingly interconnected world.

“Technology and innovation are both a challenge and an opportunity for global security policy. The increasingly rapid pace of change requires an open, interdisciplinary dialog. With the GSIS, we are creating a platform that promotes the exchange between political, economic and technological actors and enables new answers”, Bastian Giegerich, Director General of the IISS.

And Heiko M. Stutzinger, CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress, adds: “The geopolitical developments of recent years show that northern Europe is becoming increasingly important strategically. With the GSIS in Hamburg, we are now also closing a geographical gap in the event landscape when it comes to security.”

Hamburg / Global Security and Innovation Summit — Jointly organizing the new “Global Security and Innovation Summit” (from left): Bastian Giegerich and Heiko M. Stutzinger © HMC/IISS

“Hamburg offers ideal conditions”

The new format will combine a multifaceted conference with an accompanying exhibition, where current approaches and innovative solutions in the field of security policy will be presented. The partnership combines the security and defense policy expertise of the IISS with the event expertise of Hamburg Messe und Congress.

“Hamburg was deliberately chosen as the venue for the GSIS because the city offers ideal conditions due to its location, economic importance and dynamic innovative strength. With its central position in the heart of Europe, Hamburg connects Western Europe, the Nordic countries and the Baltic Sea region, creating a natural platform for open dialog between international players,” explains Giegerich.

An essential part of the preparations for the GSIS is an international listening tour, which will start in the coming weeks. Experts from a wide range of fields will be involved in developing the concept. The explicit aim of the GSIS is to take into account different regional perspectives and specific needs in the design. “The Listening Tour is a central component in making the Global Security and Innovation Summit a platform that combines global thinking with regional perspectives right from the start,” emphasizes Stutzinger.

In addition to the conference and accompanying exhibition, the GSIS aims to integrate innovative formats to promote dialog in the long term. Additional events at selected global IISS locations throughout the year and a year-round range of digital platforms and services are also planned. The details of the GSIS are currently being worked on intensively. The program will be published at a later date.