Are we in control?

The EC Conference 2026 addresses a question that many technology companies must now address: Do we really have control? Geopolitical unrest, new security requirements, stricter rules for technology transfer and more vulnerable supply chains are affecting how Norwegian technology companies can develop, produce and deliver in the future. This is not theory, but a framework that is already reflected in contracts, collaboration and responsibility in the companies.

The conference provides a comprehensive and updated review of the situation – from the big picture in Europe and Norway, via national rules and expectations, to concrete examples of how critical infrastructure, logistics, microchips and sensor technology are handled in practice. The goal is to give managers and professionals a better basis for decision-making in a more unpredictable everyday life.

The fact that the conference is being held in Horten is deliberate. The region is one of Norway's heaviest and most concentrated technology environments within electronics, sensors and defense and maritime technology. Many of the solutions that society depends on are developed precisely here. The EC Conference therefore brings together national decision-makers and security environments where the industry actually is - close to the companies concerned.

The day is led by Eirik Norman Hansen, with a background as a technologist, futurist and former program host. He is among Norway's most frequently used speakers on technology and society, precisely because he is more concerned with making serious topics understandable and engaging.