The Belgian IT service provider is establishing a new division, Cronos Defence, to gain a foothold in the defense and security industry.
The Kontich-based Cronos Group, a cluster organization comprising 600 companies, is active in many markets, but defense was not yet among the group’s activities. That is about to change. On the sidelines of the defense and arms fair taking place in Brussels this week, The Cronos Group announced the creation of a new division, Cronos Defence, via De Tijd. The Cronos Group will be present at the fair as an exhibitor.
For a commercial IT service provider, it is an interesting time to enter the defense arena. Due to geopolitical tensions, defense budgets are higher than ever, and Defense Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) is virtually the only minister in the De Wever government who does not have to make cuts. Digitalization is a key component of Francken’s plans.
No weapons
The Cronos Group’s precise plans for the defense sector remain unclear, which is not unusual in this context. The Cronos Group will reportedly focus not only on the Belgian army but also on European defense, NATO, and the broader security sector. The company has already built up the necessary expertise in cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and quantum: each of which are ‘important factors for defense’, Dirk Deroost told De Tijd, who envisions Cronos Defence eventually growing into a new cluster within the group.
Commercial Director Evelyne Dhaenens provides more concrete examples of what The Cronos Group can deliver to the defense sector. She mentions, among other things, drone monitoring or object recognition via AI, sensors to monitor equipment maintenance, and digital twin technology. About fifty employees have already received special clearance to work for defense clients.
Deroost is very explicit about what The Cronos Group will not participate in. “We are not going to develop weapons systems,” Deroost told De Tijd. This means the company will not simply jump on every defense contract. The Cronos Group will formalize this promise in a charter.