Expando and Synkzone selected by Vinnova to advance tactical data transfer for civil-military collaboration

Expando, the Nordic leader in rugged IT hardware solutions for the defence industry, in collaboration with Synczone, a software specialist in data-centric security, proudly announces that our joint project, “TED - Tactical Edge Demo,” has been awarded funding by Sweden’s innovation agency (Vinnova). Out of 60 applications, only 15 projects were awarded this prestigious grant, underscoring the fierce competition and the innovative potential of TED in addressing key NATO and national defense challenges.

The program from Vinnova is called “Collaborative project for civil-military synergies” and the main goal of TED is to make data sharing and storage secure, reliable, and fast, especially in 5G edge networks combining communication technology between civil and military systems.

Project specifications
The TED demosystem will be carefully designed to address crucial NATO and national defense challenges. It aims to improve collaboration between military and civilian systems by enabling seamless interoperability, ensuring that different teams can work together effectively. Additionally, TED will prioritize security by supporting advanced standards, including Data Centric Security (DCS), NATO’s Defense Enterprise Framework Plan (DEFP), and Zero Trust principles, which ensure only authorized access to sensitive information. Finally, the system will enhance communication capabilities within new-generation networks like 5G, allowing both military and civilian users to share information more reliably and efficiently. The platform will feature API support, e-Delivery, and enhanced MIL/CIV integration capabilities.

Project execution and goals
TED system architecture will be implemented through iterative development and testing in close dialogue with stakeholders such as Swedish Armed Forces, FMV and civilian telecom stakeholders. Synkzone brings expertise in software with superior security for data sharing and storage. Expando contributes with expertise and experience in high performance, compact rugged computing platforms based on modified COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) systems to reduce delivery time, risks, and total cost of ownership. The project will conduct demonstrations with both military and civilian decision-makers to showcase the solution’s impact and adaptability.

Expando and Synkzone
As a leading provider of military-grade rugged hardware, Expando is uniquely positioned to integrate their hardware with Synkzone’s civil software capabilities, paving the way for robust “Tactical 5G bubbles” that meet the complex demands of both sectors.

"We are very happy to be the defense partner of choice in this Synkzone led collaborative project for civil-military synergies. Learnings from the ongoing war in Ukraine shows the importance of resilient and robust telecommunications both for military, civilian society and the collaboration between those two domains. This demonstrator project is key for us at Expando to develop and demonstrate our rugged computing solutions in military- as well as civilian “total defense”
scenarios ”, says Otto Johnsson, Expando CEO.

“We are very pleased to be one of the companies awarded in this highly competitive environment, together with our partner Expando. This is well aligned with our involvement in the EDF-funded project (5G Compad) and that demonstrates that Swedish SMEs are innovative and at the forefront of developing solutions for the new needs that our NATO-countries face in a more complex environment, where civilian expertise is well-suited to a military context,” says Niclas Swanér, Synkzone CEO.

Synkzone Edge
In June 2024, Synkzone participated in NATO CWIX24 with the demonstrator "Synkzone Edge." "Synkzone Edge" combined military-grade hardware from Expando, and Synkzone's platform for tactical data transmission and storage. Several official CWIX use cases successfully demonstrated interoperability between different nations and communication technologies, including tactical data radio systems and 5G networks.

TED builds on these experiences and focuses on: Supporting tactical use in the edge, MIL/CIV interoperability via CEF eDelivery, and local file protection to ensure that information does not fall into the wrong hands if clients or servers are captured by the enemy or other unauthorized users. Local file protection is central to meeting specific military needs within DCS.