DPRTE 2018 was billed as the defence procurement event of the year and the huge numbers of attendees at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff were certainly not disappointed.
With more than 1500 key decision makers from the defence procurement world in attendance, DPRTE 2018 provided a unique opportunity to showcase goods and services, as well as the chance to engage directly with both the key personnel and organisations responsible for setting strategy and operationally delivering an annual budget of over £19 billion.
Representatives from the Ministry of Defence and other public sector bodies, prime contractors, the supply chain and academia were all represented at the one-day conference and exhibition.
The need for innovation, agility and collaboration were key themes to emerge from DPRTE 2018, with constantly evolving threats across a seemingly ever-changing geo-political landscapes demanding the defence supply industry work more closely to keep pace and achieve more on smaller budgets.
The Live Keynote Conference Arena was packed with delegates as it brought together some of the leading and most influential speakers from across the defence procurement and supply chain marketplace including MOD’s Chief Commercial Officer, Andrew Forzani; Dstl Chief Executive Gary Aitkenhead and Jacqueline Rock, Commercial Director for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).
It was against this backdrop that the Product Showcase Exhibition provided a platform for around 120 organisations from the public and private sectors to promote their products and services directly to key decision makers in the defence market.
The event contained five knowledge transfer zones – Technology & Innovation; Supply Chain & Partnering; Buyer Excellence in Procurement; Export and Business Growth; and Doing Business with the US Department of Defense – each offering a range of educational sessions, allowing attendees to learn and share ideas.
DPRTE’s six Networking and Collaboration Zones also offered attendees the opportunity to meet and discuss buyer and supplier opportunities.
If the number of attendees is any indication, the event was a huge success with many leaving the Motorpoint Arena already excited for what DPRTE has in store for 2019.
A full review of DPRTE 2018 will follow shortly.
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