The International Personal Armour Committee (IPAC) is proud to announce the 17th edition of the Personal Armour Systems Symposium (PASS 2025), which will take place from 22 to 26 September 2025 in Bruges, Belgium. Hosted at the BMCC, PASS 2025 continues the symposium’s tradition of bringing together global experts to address the challenges and innovations in the field of personal protection.
Since its inception in 1990, PASS has been the only scientific symposium exclusively dedicated to personal armour, alternating between Europe and North America to reflect its truly international community. The last symposium in Dresden (2023) attracted over 200 participants from across academia, defence, industry, military, and law enforcement – a trend expected to continue in Bruges.
A Unique Platform for Innovation and Collaboration
- Threats and Emerging Challenges – from the implications of lead-free ammunition for police body armour to the evolving risks of high-energy lasers and improvised munitions.
- Test Standards and Methods of Assessment – critical sessions on improving armour evaluation, including dynamic profiling systems, comparative blast simulators, Bayesian methods, and the implementation of NIJ Standard 0101.07.
- Casualty Reduction and Operational Analysis – real-world assessments of vest effectiveness, ballistic plate coverage, and injury modelling.
- Behind Armour and Helmet Blunt Trauma – dedicated sessions exploring skeletal, lung, and soft tissue injuries, as well as the impact of mandible protectors and helmet performance.
- Human Factors and Ergonomics – addressing comfort, mobility, gender-specific design, and innovative anthropometric surveys to optimize armour inclusivity.
- Armour Materials and End-Items – advances in ceramic geometries, flexible armour, UHMWPE composites, and machine learning applications for performance prediction.
Complementing the oral presentations, four poster sessions will provide an additional platform for emerging researchers and industry innovators to showcase their work, ranging from blast mitigation and helmet kinematics to novel ceramic body armour and ventilated vests.
Beyond the Symposium Hall
PASS 2025 is not only about technical exchange but also about networking and community building. A welcome reception at the historic De Halve Maan Brewery, a canal boat tour of Bruges, and the Conference Dinner at the Concertgebouw will provide unique opportunities to connect with peers in an informal setting.
The city of Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers a remarkable backdrop for the event – blending medieval charm with modern scientific exchange.
