Securing Tomorrow: Biosolutions and Defence for a Resilient Europe

Sofie Carsten Nielsen, Director, European Biosolutions Coalition & DI Biosolutions   

TBC

13:00-13:10: Supplementary proteins for reliable nutrition by Thomas G. Schmidt, Co-founder & CEO, 21st.BIO

13:10-13:20: Bioconcrete for resilient infrastructure by Asger Damtoft, Technical Manager, Biomason 

Preceding remarks by James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, Cyber, NATO 

To meet the defence challenges of the 21st century, we need to think about how to sustain and equip our forces in smarter, more sustainable ways. Biosolutions are already offering breakthroughs that could redefine what “military capability” looks like: Biomining for on-site extraction of rare minerals, bioconcrete for rapidly deployable and resilient infrastructure, and bioengineered spider silk for ultra-light protective gear and textiles. These innovations can reduce costly supply chain dependencies, lower emissions, and strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy. This panel brings together perspectives from the EU and NATO level, military practitioners, and biosolutions researchers to explore how they can work together to bring these frontier technologies into the mainstream of European defence planning. Can Europe move from pilot projects to actual deployment in defence supply chains? And how do we ensure biosolutions strengthen Europe’s autonomy rather than deepen dependencies elsewhere?  

• James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, Cyber, NATO  
• Bjarke Bak Christensen, Head of DTU Bio-Engineering  

More panelists to be confirmed. 

Moderator: Nicu Popescu, Co-Director, European Security Programme, European Council on Foreign Relations

15:00-15:10: Bioengineering circularity to secure high value metal supply by Odd Erik Hansen, Founder & CEO, MicroMiner

15:10-15:20: Building resilient infrastructures with CO2 by Dr. Torbjørn Ølshøj Jensen, Co-founder & Chief Science Officer, Again  

Resilience is about the capacity to absorb shocks - whether from war, pandemics, climate disasters, or disrupted supply chains - and still keep societies running. Biosolutions can help reshape energy systems, food security, and industrial supply chains. They are not a distant promise; they are already here. From alternative proteins that can provide reliable nutrition in crisis zones, to enzymes and precision fermentation that cut dependence on fossil-based inputs, to biorefineries that turn waste into energy and materials – these tools offer Europe a pathway to self-reliance and long-term sustainability. This panel will examine how policymakers, investors, and innovators can harness biosolutions to strengthen Europe’s resilience while driving competitiveness and meeting climate targets.  

• Anders Spohr, Managing Partner, Head of Planetary Health Investments at Novo Holdings 
• Dr. ir. Hendrik Waegeman, Head of Business Operations, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant 
• Christian Brix Tillegreen, Director Planetary Health, BioInnovation Institute (BII)

Moderator: Ditte Maria Brasso Sørensen, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, Think Tank EUROPA

Janka Oertel, Distinguished Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)