On our radar – navigating the future of defense technology
Thursday, 26 November 2026 · 09:30–10:15
Speaker
About this session
The pace of technological change is no longer linear; it’s exponential, systemic and deeply intertwined with geopolitics, resilience and strategic advantage. As AI transforms defence, Koen ten Hove, CTO of Thales in the Netherlands, will explore how innovation isn’t just about breakthroughs, but about building ecosystems, making bold choices and turning vision into impact.
From AI-powered decision-making in complex military operations to accelerating engineering and documentation processes, Thales is at the forefront of shaping responsible defense technology. But true strategic autonomy demands more than just cutting-edge tools; it requires focused investment in talent, systemic integration and European collaboration to ensure sovereignty, security and societal benefit.
Join us as Ten Hove dives into the critical choices, partnerships and technologies that will define the future of defense. A future where innovation isn’t just an option, but a necessity for shaping tomorrow’s security landscape. How do we prioritize? How do we scale? And how do we ensure that the technologies we build today serve the missions of tomorrow? That’s what’s on our radar.
About the speaker
Koen ten Hove
Koen ten Hove brings a wealth of experience and a relentless drive for innovation to his role as CTO of Thales, where he leads the technological vision shaping the future of defense and security. With over thirty years of expertise spanning R&D, engineering and operations, he’s consistently pushed boundaries in high-tech industries, most recently as head of R&D and engineering at Prodrive Technologies.
A problem-solver at heart, Ten Hove thrives on turning complex challenges into impactful solutions. His career reflects a global perspective, with deep immersion in diverse markets. This includes a year in India and five years in China, where he gained unique insights into technology, culture and collaboration. His belief that life is about collecting experiences fuels his curiosity and his ability to connect ideas across disciplines.
