The DESEi+d (National Congress on Defense and Security R&D) is a key annual event in the field of research and development of technologies applied to defense and security in Spain. This congress brings together experts, academics, industry representatives and agents of the defense sector in order to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange around technological innovations that can be applied in both military and civilian fields.
In its 2023 edition, held at the Marine Infantry School “General Albacete y Fuster” in Cartagena, the congress was attended by various institutions, including universities, technology centers, and companies from the Defense Technological and Industrial Base. This forum provides a space to present and disseminate the latest research results in key thematic areas, such as weapon systems, information and communication technologies (ICT), personal and platform protection, and surveillance and reconnaissance systems (ISTAR).
One of the main objectives of DESEi+d is to strengthen collaboration between the Armed Forces, companies in the sector and the academic environment to face future security challenges. Both present needs and future capabilities that the sector can offer are discussed, and the transfer of technology to civilian applications is promoted, which is also of economic and social benefit to the country.
In the defense context, events such as DESEi+d are essential to ensure that Spain remains competitive in terms of technological innovation. Public-private collaboration is reinforced through awards such as the “Isdefe Defense Challenge”, which in this edition focused on satellite systems, an area of growing importance for defense strategy. This prize, worth 2,500 euros, is awarded to the best scientific communication in this area.
The SEDA project participated in the congress with four papers written for the event. The four papers were based on the technologies and state of the art used and collected during the development of SEDA. Specifically, we have talked about ”Implementation of a Deep Learning based system for dark vessel detection in satellite image through route prediction”, ‘Implementation of a Deep Learning model for abarlock detection in satellite images in SEDA’, ‘Review of current perspectives and emerging trends in ship wake detection’ and ‘Review of the State of the Art of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms on Satellite Imagery for Polar Zone Navigation Route Planning’.”, “Implementación de un modelo de Deep Learning para la detección de abarloamientos en imágenes satelitales en SEDA”, “Review of current perspectives and emerging trends in ship wake detection” y “State of the Art Review of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms on Satellite Imagery for Navigation Route Planning in Polar Zones”.
DESEi+d is not only a scientific and technical congress, but also a reflection of Spain's commitment to the modernization of its defense capabilities through research and development of cutting-edge technologies. In this sense, its role is fundamental to prepare the Armed Forces for the challenges of the future, such as cyber warfare, space defense and the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.
The role of DESEi+d in Spanish defence is therefore multifaceted. It provides a platform for technological innovation, fosters collaboration between various sectors, and ensures that the Armed Forces are equipped to operate in an increasingly technological and complex environment. Furthermore, its focus on dual technologies (those that can have both military and civilian applications) underlines the relevance of defence in the country's economic and social development.
This congress is a crucial space for the formulation of new technological and innovation strategies that will allow Spain to maintain its position as a leader in research and development in defence and security.
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