WHO WE ARE

Where Europe’s Leading Ports and Innovation Ecosystems Converge

DroneHorizon is the anchor event of a multi-year European collaboration between three key innovation hubs: DronePort Rotterdam (Port of Rotterdam), The Beacon (Port of Antwerp-Bruges), and Windrove –Hamburg Aviation (Hamburg Port Authority).

The summit rotates between these leading port cities, starting in Rotterdam in 2025, moving to Antwerp-Bruges in 2026, and then to Hamburg in 2027.

At its core there's one shared mission: leading the acceleration and adoption of autonomous and unmanned systems in critical domains.

strategic pillars world port days collaboration

"The innovation gap is at the root of Europe’s slowing productivity growth … We must bring innovation back to Europe – through reforming the whole innovation ecosystem."

Mario Draghi - Economist and former Italian Prime Minister

September 2024 address to the European Pariament on the Report on the Future of European Competitiveness

what sets us apart

Our Strategic Pillars

At DroneHorizon, Mario Draghi and the European Commission's vision takes shape through a shared commitment to strengthen Europe’s autonomy and resilience. By combining the expertise of three major port innovation ecosystems, we are laying the foundation for an aligned European approach to innovation: one that is secure, future-ready, and globally connected.

This collaboration is grounded in three strategic pillars:

Strategic autonomy: Reducing dependence on non-European technologies and supply chains.

Digital autonomy: Building trusted systems, secure data-sharing frameworks, and regulatory leadership.

Resilience: Enhancing Europe’s preparedness across civil, industrial, and defence domains.

DRONEHORIZON x WORLD PORT DAYS 2025

A Shared Ambition, Two Formats

DroneHorizon is closely connected to the Innovation Dock at the World Port Days, an annual public event attracting over 400,000 visitors. While DroneHorizon is a B2B summit for strategy and exchange, the Innovation Dock, organized by DronePort Rotterdam, Platform Zero, Port of Rotterdam, and the World Port Days, offers a live expo space for innovation, public engagement, and partner visibility. Six themes are central her: Sustainability, maritime innovation, autonomous and unmanned systems, national security, EU and international collaboration, as well as education and training.

DroneHorizon

4 September 2025

This international and indoor B2B summit, focuses on strategic dialogue, knowledge exchange, and matchmaking around the operational integration of autonomous and unmanned systems in critical domains.

Innovation Dock

5 September 2025

Part of the World Port Days, this new 1000 m² open expo space brings together emerging tech, talent and cross-sector collaboration to showcase real-world innovations shaping ports, logistics, and urban maritime ecosystems.