The first Telford-based Specialist Defence and Security Convention UK is a runaway success

The Specialist Defence and Security Convention UK (SDSC-UK), formerly the Three Counties Defence and Security Expo (3CDSE), held its sixth show with great success on the 1st and 2nd of November.

This year, as the event grows internationally, creating increasing demands in terms of proximity to airports, the event moved from its original home of the Three Counties Showground, Malvern to the Telford International Centre (TIC). Remaining in the West Midlands was key to the organisers, the Three Counties Regional Defence and Security Cluster whose base remains in Hereford, and TIC provided the excellent transport links, exhibition space and facilities necessary to accommodate SDSC-UK in this next stage of its evolution as the UK’s premier specialist defence and security event.

SDSC-UK welcomed over 1200 delegates, and 100 exhibitors who came together to network and collaborate in this conducive setting.

The event showcased innovations in communications, cyber, protective equipment and autonomy from companies across the security and defence tech and innovation space, as well as other digital transformation sectors, including Agritech, Fintech and Automotive.

Building on the exceptional level of support provided by both UK and US governments in previous years, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and US Department of Defence (US DOD) utilised SDSC-UK as a platform to launch the US Special Operations Forces Command (USSOCOM) Innovation Foundry. The Foundry is a collaborative initiative intended to bring together Special Operations Forces (SOF), industry, academia, national labs, government and futurists in an exploration, design-thinking, facilitated event to assist USSOCOM in decomposing future scenarios and missions.

Exhibitors were also given the opportunity to pitch themselves and their innovations to the US DOD’S U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (U.S DEVCOM) team. Keeping TIC as its chosen venue, SDSC-UK is due to take place on November 2024.