European Drone Conference

security essen: 
		Drohne2

Opportunities and risks for the public & private security sector

The development of robotics has gained enormous momentum in recent years. Accompanied by miniaturization processes, high-speed processors and artificial intelligence (AI), ground-based robots and drones and their sensors are becoming increasingly important for a holistic approach to security. The private security industry is therefore also taking this development into account. The use of robotics in combination with artificial intelligence (AI) and certified control centres also offers extraordinary potential for improving preventive security measures in the areas of demographics, climate and digitalization. In addition, if desired, an important contribution can be made to the police situation picture.

At the same time, aerial robotics (drones) in particular offer criminal organizations and terrorist organizations cost-effective options for posing a variety of security threats and undermining existing security concepts. Here too, the private security industry is adapting to the new technical, organizational and personnel requirements.

The potential of robotics (land, air, water) offers excellent opportunities to improve existing security solutions with declining numbers of applicants for the security industry and is also a requirement for companies and critical infrastructures to align their risk concepts with the new threats. The security industry is an integral part and a supporting pillar of the security architecture in Germany. In a joint exchange with other stakeholders, the private security industry is a technical expert, risk analyst and solution provider.

As a member of the advisory board and together with security, the specialist committee for drones in the German Federal Association of the Security Industry (BDSW) is offering the opportunity for experts to meet at the second European Drone Conference in hall 5. The aim of the conference is to promote the interdisciplinary networking of all players in order to discuss the current legal and resulting challenges for sustainable protection and business concepts.

Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
09:00–09:15
Get together
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
09:15–09:30
Welcome
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
09:30–10:00
Topic to be announced
Ministry of Economic Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
10:00–10:30
Drones in the security sector: potential and challenges from a European perspective
Alexander Frank, Deputy Director General, CoESS
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
10:30–10:45
Break
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
10:45–11:15
Security and Drone Technology in Germany
Cornelius Toussaint, Vice President, BDSW; Chair of the Drone Committee; CEO, CONDOR Group
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
11:15–11:45
EU and national aviation law for drones: safety versus security
Alexander Tummes, Senior Aviation Manager, Droniq GmbH
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
11:45–12:15
Use of UAS to protect critical infrastructure
Marcus Schermann, Head of Mobile Technology (CTO Security), UAV/UAS Operations Manager, DB Security GmbH
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
12:15–12:45
Break
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
12:45–13:15
Research and Development in Drone Technology
Robert Grafe, Managing Director, DRZ e.V.
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
13:15–13:45
Automated drone solutions for efficient perimeter security / Technology, training, authorisation and operation: a practical example
Jörg Renter, Leitung Dock & Detektion, U-ROB GmbH
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
13:45–14:15
BVLOS Requirements, Opportunities and Planning for BVLOS Operations
Dr. Klaus Scho, CEO, Germandrones
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
14:15-14:45
Drone Operators as a Driver of Industrial Innovation
Alexandra Potthoff, Manager Government Relations & Public Affairs, Morpheus Logistik GmbH
Wednesdax, 23.09.2026
14:45–15:00
Summary Day 1
Thursday, 24.09.2026
09:30–10:00
Get together
10:00 – 10:30
The importance of civil-military cooperation
Herbert Reul, Minister of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia
10:30–10:45
Welcome
Cornelius Toussaint, BDSW Vice-President, Chair of the BDSW’s Drone Working Group, CEO of the CONDOR Group
10:45–11:15
EU Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security
Valerio Liberatori, Policy Officer, Counterterrorism Unit, Directorate-General Migration & Home Affairs, European Commission
11:15–11:45
The Power of Integration – Drone Detection and Robotics in a Common Operational Picture
Gerd Kupferer, Chair of the Drone Committee, Securiton Deutschland GmbH
11:45-12:15
Legal Framework for Drone Management in Critical Infrastructure Considering the Current State of Aviation Security Legislation
Prof. Dr. Martin Maslaton, Board Member, BVZD – German Association for Civil Drones: New Mobility, Digitalization & Logistics
12:15–12:45
Break
12:45–13:15
Quality through standardisation – recognised state-of-the-art technology for drone defence
Torsten Kretschmann, Chair of the DIN Working Committee on Drone Detection
13:15–13:45
Air superiority as a key element of the action plan / Civil-military integrated air situation as a central element of the ‘Drones Germany’ action plan
Lukas Leisching, Corporate Development & Corporate Strategy, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH
13:45–14:15
Drone detection: benefits and requirements
Rolf Holstein & André Danner, German Business Protection GmbH
14:15-14:45
Drone defence: European developments for the security sector
Alexander Frank, Deputy Director General, CoESS
14:45-15:00
Summary of Day 2
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