GE Vernova Announced as Gold Sponsor for the SMI Conference 2026

The Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) is pleased to announce GE Vernova as Gold Sponsor of its flagship SMI Conference 2026. The event will take place on 17 February 2026 in at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology & Innovation Centre in Glasgow.

The SMI Conference brings together senior leaders from industry, government and the wider maritime community to explore the strategic, technical and regulatory challenges shaping the future of the sector, with this year’s edition placing a strong focus on decarbonisation, industrial resilience, digitalisation and global competitiveness.

GE Vernova’s Power Conversion & Storage business is at the forefront of advanced energy conversion and storage systems, supporting defence, maritime, industrial and energy customers in addressing electrification challenges and accelerating the transition to a more resilient, decarbonised future.

Working across maritime sectors including defence, offshore energy and ports, GE Vernova enables next-generation vessel and mission capability through vessel electric grids that power propulsion, mission systems and onboard operations, efficiently sharing and distributing power. Power networks enable hosting of data, advanced automation, controls and intelligence in response to evolving operational and sustainability demands..

As part of the conference programme Jon Childs, Marine Application Engineering Leader at GE Vernova’s Power Conversion & Storage business, will present on “Revolutionizing the Ship’s Electric Grid: Active Stator and HALO”. The session will introduce delegates to GE Vernova’s Active Stator and HALO electric grid architecture, developed in collaboration with the Royal Navy.

The presentation will explore how emerging operational demands, including power-intensive technologies such as pulse weapons, are driving the need for radically new approaches to shipboard power systems. At the same time, increasing resilience and sustainability pressures place efficiency at the centre of future naval and maritime design. The HALO architecture takes power system redundancy and resilience to a new level, while reducing volume, improving efficiency and supporting emissions reduction, offering insight into how electric grid innovation can transform maritime capability.

Commenting on GE Vernova’s support and participation, Tom Chant MBE, Chief Executive of the Society of Maritime Industries, said:

“We are pleased to welcome GE Vernova as a Gold Sponsor of the SMI Conference 2026. GE Vernova brings significant expertise in electrification and energy systems, and their continued engagement with SMI events supports valuable discussion around innovation, resilience and sustainability across the maritime sector.”

Andy Cooper, Managing Director at GE Vernova’s Power Conversion & Storage business said,

“Once again, we’re pleased to be supporting the Society of Maritime Industry’s Annual Conference. The event represents a forum of insightful collaborative thinking and an important opportunity for industry and government to engage about innovating the future of UK maritime capability.”

GE Vernova’s support of the SMI Conference underscores its commitment to advancing innovative, efficient and sustainable maritime technologies, while actively engaging with the wider industry as it addresses evolving operational and environmental challenges.

Further details of the SMI Conference 2026 programme, including tickets and registration, can be found here.