On April 4th & 5th, students of Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management will convene the fourth annual Technology and National Security Conference at Klarman Hall. Although the TechNatSec Conference will delve into the ways cutting-edge technology is poised to shape the future, cultivating forward-looking National Security concepts is not new to Cambridge. This corner of the Nation has long stood as a crucible where intellect and ingenuity have met valor in an effort to safeguard the peace. As early as 1775, Harvard Yard served as a barracks for the Continental Army while, by World War II, MIT’s Vannevar Bush spearheaded radar innovations that turned the tide against the German Luftwaffe. In the backdrop of this legacy, the 2025 HBS/MIT TechNatSec Conference will assemble in Cambridge as a growing forum for those who believe the problems of tomorrow’s battlefields must be solved today.
Over the last four years, teams of student planners have grown the TechNatSec Conference into a crucial platform where leaders from across the globe can address the demands of modern defense. This year, the Conference’s theme is “Adapting in a New Era of National Security,” where participants will explore how innovation, talent, and strategic partnerships can meet the needs of an increasingly complex threat environment. With projected attendance of nearly 1,000 participants hailing from all over the globe paired with ample representation of speakers and keynotes from both current and former USG leaders, venture capitalists, academics, and defense innovators—this event will be a must-see and is undoubtedly our most ambitious summit to date.
This year, the TecNatSec Conference will tackle issues beyond start-ups in the defense space. The conversations throughout the day will expand the traditional boundaries that define “National Security”, as we explore the need for more developers in our Shipbuilding panel, the need for varying types of capital allocators in our Investment Panel, the need to think asymmetrically in our Space Panel, and much more…
In addition to the historical backdrop of Cambridge’s geography, it is readily apparent that today’s world is rife with tension. As conflicts rage in Europe and the Middle East, the People’s Republic of China is on the move. We realize that these challenges call for more than mere discussion—they require clear and intelligent solutions. From startups building American armament capacity to senior USG leadership deploying AI to construct the future of warfighting, this Conference will undoubtedly cover the gamut of what is required for National Security in 2025 and beyond.
The Conference will begin on Friday the 4th with an evening reception at the MIT Museum. Ticket-holders will be encouraged to roam the gallery halls unimpeded while hearing insights from the Nation’s most senior leaders and engaging in conversations with like-minded conference-goers. Saturday, April 5th, will be a full day of intrepid events taking place on Soldiers Field Road at HBS’s Klarman Hall, featuring keynotes and panels with USG officials, industry pioneers, and tech visionaries. In addition to bold discussions, the Conference’s Innovation Showcase will highlight a series of startups vying for a $100,000 prize in a pitch-style format. Altogether, the Conference’s expansive offerings should provide value and intrigue for any aficionado of the National Security and technology landscape.
For us, the organizers, the Conference has been a labor of conviction. Months of effort and planning have led up to the event, and we wholeheartedly believe that the Conference will serve as 2025′s premier National Security forum where innovation, technology, and risk-taking can align as global stability hangs in the balance. Please join us in Boston as we honor Cambridge’s legacy while pushing the envelope on what is required to meet the gravity of our collective moment in time.