From 19^th to 21^st November, Prof Grunde Jomaas participated in SIDEX 2025, one of the Asia-Pacific region’s largest events dedicated to disaster management and emergency response. Organised by COSEM and supported by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the three-day conference and exhibition took place at the Singapore Expo and gathered fire chiefs, disaster-management leaders, emergency-response specialists, engineers, and industry experts from across the world.

SIDEX 2025 was built around the theme “Ready Today, Resilient Tomorrow”, with three core sub-themes:

• Civil protection and security
• Disaster management
• Humanitarian aid

The programme featured international keynote speakers, technical sessions, and an extensive technology exhibition showcasing the latest advances in emergency-response systems, materials, and digital tools. Parallel to the conference, SCDF organised the 8^th Singapore Global Firefighters and Paramedics Challenge, bringing together teams from 20 countries for scenario-based competitions in firefighting and rescue.

Prof Jomaas contributed as a speaker in Panel Session 2: Advanced Technologies for Enhancing Building Resilience and Infrastructure Safety, moderated by Prof Daniel Nilsson. He joined fellow panellists Dr Susan Lamont (ARUP), Mr Robert Ball (ATG Access), and Er Thanabal Kaliannan (Building and Construction Authority Singapore). The session explored the role of emerging technologies, improved engineering design, and regulatory frameworks in strengthening building resilience.

SIDEX 2025 provided an important platform for connecting global experts and sharing knowledge that will help shape the future of disaster management, infrastructure safety, and emergency preparedness.