Leona ALLESLEV (Canada)
19 October 2018
Science and Technology Committee (STC) noted its worry “that NATO’s technological edge is eroding”. As a consequence, the STC is redoubling its efforts to identify the challenges in meeting Alliance goals and to lend political support to rectify any shortcomings. Most Allies are beginning to understand the importance of maintaining the Science and Technology (S&T) edge. However, this report argues that a much greater sense of urgency must prevail. If the Alliance does not redouble its efforts, the window of opportunity to adapt to the changing international security and S&T situation will rapidly close.
This report argues that, to maintain the edge, the Alliance should fulfill two key objectives: first, defence innovators in the Alliance must maintain their leadership position; second, the defence technology gap between Allies must remain small enough to be bridged by interoperability. In order to do so, NATO should ensure that its S&T community’s resources are properly used, to identify problems quickly and streamline innovation through all the members of the Alliance.
This document is a mapping exercise of NATO S&T, firstly discussed at the Spring Session in Warsaw and then adopted at the NATO PA 64th Annual Session in Halifax, Canada. It aims to answer the following questions:
- How are we defining and measuring NATO’s S&T edge?
- What is NATO’s role in maintaining the S&T edge?
- What tools does NATO have to fulfil this role?
- How are we evaluating NATO on its delivery of its S&T mission?
- Does the Alliance need new instruments or policies to maintain its S&T edge?
