NATO launches new technological initiatives
NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, announced the launch of the NATO Innovation Fund on Friday at the 'Meetings of NATO Ministers of Defence'.
The fund is expected to invest $1 billion, with innovators working on emerging and disruptive technologies.
Not only will it help to bring in other sources of public and private investment and promote investment opportunities and market access across the whole Alliance, but it will also protect the most innovative technologies from competitors.
It is one part of a broader strategy and is being developed in tandem with the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, or DIANA.
Through DIANA, NATO allies will provide a network of technology test centres and accelerator sites to better harness civilian innovation in the defence industry.
This will strengthen the technological bond between Europe and North America, ensuring allies are able to operate the different technologies seamlessly.
Both initiatives are expected to be fully in effect by NATO’s Madrid Summit in 2022.
More from Defence Notes
-
Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent
The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
-
UK begins process on new industrial strategy
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
-
Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
-
What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
-
RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
-
Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.