Gdynia • May 12, 2026
The Pomeranian Science and Technology Park Gdynia
Naval capability starts long before steel is cut - in requirements,
design decisions, review discipline, and cross-sector cooperation
Join leading experts and decision-makers at the NERDS Symposium on Gdynia - where the future of naval surface vessel design takes shape.
The NERDS Symposium is more than a conference - it is a platform for building the naval future.
Hear from specialists at Saab Naval (Sweden) and MMC Ship Design (Poland) as they reveal behind-the-scenes perspectives on the full design journey - from early concept development and system requirements definition to the use of advanced digital design tools and collaborative review processes. Discover how close cooperation with the customer is redefining modern surface ship design.
This high-level event will bring together representatives of government, armed forces, industry, academia, and maritime technology centres to explore the most pressing challenges in designing and building next-generation naval surface platforms.
The discussion centers on a strategic Polish program known as “Delfin” - a project of two state-of-the-art SIGINT vessels for the Polish Navy. For the first time, participants will gain exclusive insights and lessons learned from the programme’s design phase, shared directly by the experts involved.
Engage in forward-looking discussions on Polish–Swedish collaboration and its role in driving innovation across European maritime programmes.
Speakers
Symposium organizers
Saab serves the global market of governments, authorities and corporations with products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security.



MMC Ship Design & Marine Consulting Ltd. is an independent design company specializing in ships for the offshore industry and specialist ships. It offers a wide range of designs of vessels as well as the designing of alterations and technical consulting to select the best solutions.
Agenda
-
09:00 - 09:15
Official opening
This opening session will explain why the symposium is being held now and why the completion of the "Dolphin" design phase is worth marking as a strategic milestone.
It will highlight the importance of Swedish-Polish industrial cooperation and frame vessel design as a critical stage in building future naval capability.
-
09:45 - 10:15
PANEL SESSION: Early stages of naval projects – requirements and basic design process
This panel will examine how the strategic environment has changed: from limited budgets and long timelines to urgent naval capability renewal under significant time pressure.
The discussion will focus on the pre-contract phase, the definition of requirements, and the role of basic design in turning operational expectations into a viable vessel concept.
It will also address how early alignment between customer and prime contractor can reduce downstream risk, rework, and schedule pressure. -
10:45 - 11:15
PANEL SESSION: The changing nature of naval design
This session will explore how naval design is evolving from a purely engineering-driven activity into a process increasingly shaped by information flow, decision quality, and stakeholder coordination.
The panel will discuss the growing role of digital tools, integrated data environments, and collaboration across suppliers, partners, and design teams.
-
11:45 - 12:00
SIGNING CEREMONY: Strategic Cooperation Agreement
This ceremony will mark a shared commitment to long-term cooperation between the partners and underline the strategic importance of trust, continuity, and industrial alignment in future naval programs.
-
12:00 - 13:00
Lunch
-
13:30 - 14:00
PANEL SESSION: Key stakeholders involvement in the design process
This panel will broaden the discussion beyond a single programs and look at the wider ecosystem needed to increase naval capabilities at scale.
It will address the role of municipalities, academia, research centers, and industry partnerships in developing skills, innovation capacity, and long-term regional cooperation.
The Swedish-Polish cooperation around the Delphin programs serves as an example of how such relationships create durable strategic value.
-
14:30 - 14:40
Closing remarks
.
-
09:15 - 09:45
KEYNOTE SPEECH: Complex warship delivery process
This talk will present the warship delivery process from the prime contractor’s perspective, drawing on recent program experience and practical lessons learned.
It will show how decisions taken during the pre-contract and basic design stages shape execution, coordination, and delivery performance throughout the rest of the project.
Special attention will be given to the processing of requirements into accepted technical solutions shared across all stakeholders. -
10:15 - 10:45
Coffee break
-
11:15 - 11:45
PANEL SESSION: System design within the naval design process
This panel will focus on system design as one of the key decision-making layers within naval programs.
It will address the review and interpretation of system requirements, the importance of timely and structured technical decisions, and the relationship between design maturity and realistic production planning.
The discussion will also show how thousands of interdependencies must be coordinated to deliver challenging schedules without compromising quality. -
12:00 - 12:15
Media briefing
-
13:00 - 13:30
KEYNOTE SPEECH: Data and design review process as critical decision making stage
This presentation will show why the design review process should be treated not as an administrative routine, but as a core project decision-making mechanism.
It will present methods and tools that support transparent comment handling, faster resolution of technical issues, and earlier closure of key decisions.
The session will also outline future directions for improving review transparency and coordination across stakeholders.
-
14:00 - 14:30
PANEL SESSION: Strengthening cooperation between regions, cities and universities
This panel will broaden the discussion beyond a single programs and look at the wider ecosystem needed to increase naval capabilities at scale.
It will address the role of municipalities, academia, research centers, and industry partnerships in developing skills, innovation capacity, and long-term regional cooperation.
The Swedish-Polish cooperation around the "Dolphin" programs serves as an example of how such relationships create durable strategic value
-
09:00 - 09:15
Official opening
This opening session will explain why the symposium is being held now and why the completion of the "Dolphin" design phase is worth marking as a strategic milestone.
It will highlight the importance of Swedish-Polish industrial cooperation and frame vessel design as a critical stage in building future naval capability.
-
09:15 - 09:45
KEYNOTE SPEECH: Complex warship delivery process
This talk will present the warship delivery process from the prime contractor’s perspective, drawing on recent program experience and practical lessons learned.
It will show how decisions taken during the pre-contract and basic design stages shape execution, coordination, and delivery performance throughout the rest of the project.
Special attention will be given to the processing of requirements into accepted technical solutions shared across all stakeholders. -
09:45 - 10:15
PANEL SESSION: Early stages of naval projects – requirements and basic design process
This panel will examine how the strategic environment has changed: from limited budgets and long timelines to urgent naval capability renewal under significant time pressure.
The discussion will focus on the pre-contract phase, the definition of requirements, and the role of basic design in turning operational expectations into a viable vessel concept.
It will also address how early alignment between customer and prime contractor can reduce downstream risk, rework, and schedule pressure. -
10:15 - 10:45
Coffee break
-
10:45 - 11:15
PANEL SESSION: The changing nature of naval design
This session will explore how naval design is evolving from a purely engineering-driven activity into a process increasingly shaped by information flow, decision quality, and stakeholder coordination.
The panel will discuss the growing role of digital tools, integrated data environments, and collaboration across suppliers, partners, and design teams.
-
11:15 - 11:45
PANEL SESSION: System design within the naval design process
This panel will focus on system design as one of the key decision-making layers within naval programs.
It will address the review and interpretation of system requirements, the importance of timely and structured technical decisions, and the relationship between design maturity and realistic production planning.
The discussion will also show how thousands of interdependencies must be coordinated to deliver challenging schedules without compromising quality. -
11:45 - 12:00
SIGNING CEREMONY: Strategic Cooperation Agreement
This ceremony will mark a shared commitment to long-term cooperation between the partners and underline the strategic importance of trust, continuity, and industrial alignment in future naval programs.
-
12:00 - 12:15
Media briefing
-
12:00 - 13:00
Lunch
-
13:00 - 13:30
KEYNOTE SPEECH: Data and design review process as critical decision making stage
This presentation will show why the design review process should be treated not as an administrative routine, but as a core project decision-making mechanism.
It will present methods and tools that support transparent comment handling, faster resolution of technical issues, and earlier closure of key decisions.
The session will also outline future directions for improving review transparency and coordination across stakeholders.
-
13:30 - 14:00
PANEL SESSION: Key stakeholders involvement in the design process
This panel will broaden the discussion beyond a single programs and look at the wider ecosystem needed to increase naval capabilities at scale.
It will address the role of municipalities, academia, research centers, and industry partnerships in developing skills, innovation capacity, and long-term regional cooperation.
The Swedish-Polish cooperation around the Delphin programs serves as an example of how such relationships create durable strategic value.
-
14:00 - 14:30
PANEL SESSION: Strengthening cooperation between regions, cities and universities
This panel will broaden the discussion beyond a single programs and look at the wider ecosystem needed to increase naval capabilities at scale.
It will address the role of municipalities, academia, research centers, and industry partnerships in developing skills, innovation capacity, and long-term regional cooperation.
The Swedish-Polish cooperation around the "Dolphin" programs serves as an example of how such relationships create durable strategic value
-
14:30 - 14:40
Closing remarks
.
Lokalizacja
Park Gdynia