Emerging and Disruptive Technology: workshop on Technology, Security and Finance
In the context of its ongoing work on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, NATO’s Emerging Security Challenges Division organized a workshop on 11 June 2020 on technology, security and finance. The workshop brought together Allied officials and external experts to discuss key issues Allies face when looking to finance defence and security related innovative technologies.
Today’s small start-ups could be the Big Technology companies of tomorrow. But to survive in an increasingly competitive environment, they need to attract quick and flexible investments. In his remarks, Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană acknowledged that our methods of acquisition can be slow and cumbersome. “To capitalize on innovative technologies, we need to adapt and establish new ways of financing, including Venture Capital”, said DSG Geoană. He added that “we need to develop a culture of innovation, become more agile, have more flexible governance arrangements and dare to take risks.”
The Deputy Secretary General indicated that NATO’s work on emerging and disruptive technologies will continue in the weeks and months, in line with the decisions made by NATO leaders when they met in London in December. Developing an attractive Allied defence innovation eco-system is key to ensure that NATO retains its technological edge. “NATO should come up with new, different and creative approaches to better connect to the defence innovation eco-system”, said DSG Geoană.