Kick-off for “Militia meets business” in Vienna

On Monday evening, Militär Aktuell and the Austrian Militia Association co-organized the kick-off of the new event series “Militia meets business” (-> to the event website). In the premises of Helvetia Austria, the two-hour event focused on the current security risks for Austria, the “Development Plan 2032+” and the strengths of the Austrian security and defense industry. Security is not everything, but without security everything is nothing. After introductory words on the evening’s motto by Militär Aktuell editor-in-chief Jürgen Zacharias and Brigadier Johannes Kainzbauer, President of the Militia Association, Arnold Kammel, Secretary General and Director of Defense Policy at the Ministry of Defense, gave an insight into current geopolitical developments and threats to Austria’s security in his opening keynote.

The best photos from “Militia meets business”:

“Unfortunately, we often still think in 27 European silos, with 27 national interests. At European level, however, we must learn to better formulate our interests and find common answers to geopolitical conflicts and challenges,” he appeals. “It is also essential that we create greater understanding between the military on the one hand and the economy on the other. The better one knows about the other and the respective challenges, the better the cooperation will work.”

“It is essential that we create greater understanding between the military on the one hand and the economy on the other. The better one knows about the other and the respective challenges, the better the cooperation will work.”

Arnold Kammel, Generalsekretär im Verteidigungsministerium

From the perspective of the insurance industry, Andreas Gruber, Chief Officer Property-Casualty, then built a bridge to the business world. “Today’s exchange between militia and business offers a new framework for selected guests to discuss hot topics and shed light on them from different angles. I am delighted that we at Helvetia are able to make a contribution from the perspective of an insurance company.”

Gruber continues: “The setting was deliberately chosen to promote discussions and new alliances outside of the civilian professions. A look at the history of Helvetia’s executive distribution shows how important such connections are and what can emerge from them.”

“Today’s exchange between militia and business offers a new framework for selected guests to discuss hot topics and shed light on them from different angles.”

Andreas Gruber, Vorstand Helvetia

Colonel Peter Krauss, Head of Executive Sales at Helvetia Austria and, in his military capacity, commander of the Burgenland fighter battalion, looked back on the beginnings of Helvetia in the next item on the program.

Armed Forces“Director Franz Czaby recognized from a key experience as commander of an anti-aircraft platoon that many soldiers had to bear a disproportionately high responsibility for people and material. His know-how as an insurance expert provided the impetus for the invention of official and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in our company – the first insurance product to be developed for the army.”

“OUR COMPANY INVENTED official and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance – the first insurance product ever developed for the army.”

Oberst Peter Krauss, Helvetia & Kommandant Jägerbataillon Burgenland

Brigadier Reinhard Kraft, Commander of the Aviation and Air Defense Troop School and Garrison Commander of the Leopold Figl Air Base – General Pabisch Air Base (-> Brumowski airbase gets new name) provided insights into the focal points of the “Mission Forward” and the “2032+ Reconstruction Plan” of the Austrian Armed Forces. https://youtu.be/ctfdW5UIaGQ This was followed by a discussion between Brigadier Udo Birkner (Chairman of Hypo Niederösterreich and President of the Vienna Officers’ Association), Lieutenant Colonel Bernhard Müller (lawyer, DORDA partner and Chairman of the Procurement Review Commission), Sonja Linskeseder (Deputy Managing Director of ARGE Sicherheit & Wirtschaft in der WKÖ), Captain Mario Traar (Program Manager Pandur Evolution at General Dynamics European Land Systems-Steyr and Technical Officer at Jägerbataillon 17) and Colonel Armin Richter (Chairman of the Militia Association, assigned to the General Staff in Vienna and consultant for strategic management) discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the Austrian security and defense industry. https://militaeraktuell.at/eurosatory-gdels-zeigt-pandur-mit-crossbow-moerser/ Questions that were answered: How is the Austrian industry structured in this sensitive area? Where does it have strengths? And where are the capability gaps? What challenges is the industry currently facing? How great is the tailwind from orders from the Austrian Armed Forces for Austrian companies, including on the export market, and what is the personnel situation in the industry and in the Armed Forces?

“It is important that the armed forces and industry exchange ideas, form networks, identify commonalities and thus work together to make Austria safer and more resilient in the long term.”

Matthias Heigl & Jürgen Zacharias, Militär Aktuell

Militär Aktuell Managing Director Matthias Heigl and Militär Aktuell Editor-in-Chief Jürgen Zacharias were satisfied afterwards. “Tonight marked the start of our new ‘Militia meets business’ event series and delivered exactly what we had expected in terms of content: exciting presentations and discussions, comprehensive information on current and planned procurements and an overview of the strengths of a sector that is often unfairly sidelined in public discourse.” Zacharias and Heigl continue: “In addition to the information, the networking character of this event format is also crucial for us. It is important that the armed forces and industry exchange ideas, form networks, identify commonalities and thus work together to make Austria safer and more resilient in the long term.”

The “Militia meets business” series of events is set to enter the next round in September. More detailed information will be announced in due course, but interested parties can already register for the event newsletter.