02 June 2021

NATO leaders set to launch new ‘defence innovation accelerator' at summit

by Brooks Tigner

NATO leaders will consider two controversial proposals during their 14 June Brussels summit: increasing the alliance's common funding and creating a ‘defence innovation accelerator' to rapidly develop and absorb emerging disruptive technologies (EDTs) into their militaries. The two agenda topics, among others, were decided by NATO foreign and defence ministers meeting in Brussels on 1 June.

Stoltenberg expects allied leaders to decide in principle on a new innovation accelerator at their 14 June Brussels summit. (NATO)

“We need to sharpen our technological edge because we see that disruptive technologies are really changing the way our militaries are going to have to operate in the future,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after the meeting, adding that the accelerator “will help prevent any [EDT] gaps between the allies.”

He said the leaders should reach a decision “in principle” on the idea, leaving the details of where to site the accelerator, its rules of governance, and other aspects to be worked out after the summit. They will also clarify that allies can opt in or out of the accelerator by providing extra funding for it, he said.

How such funding would be applied or benefit donor countries was not clear. “Exactly what kind of access [to developed EDTs] that those allies who are not part of the accelerator will have is too early to say, but of course they will not have the same access, and will not participate in exactly the same way as those who decide to be part of it and provide funding for it,” Stoltenberg said in response to a question from Janes . “But I believe many allies will actually decide to participate because they see the high value of working with the private sector,” he added.

NATO leaders will consider two controversial proposals during their 14 June Brussels summit: increas...

Jane's Find unrivaled intelligence, consultancy and advertising solutions to the defence and national security sectors.