The Strategic Context – Why Does NATO Care About Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs)?
Emerging and disruptive technologies are redefining our daily lives—from the smartphones we use to manage our schedules, to the systems that power our banking and grocery shopping. However, these advancements extend far beyond civilian applications; they have significant implications for global security. For NATO, the impacts of these technologies are profound, offering not only enhanced operational capabilities but also introducing new forms of threats from various actors on the global stage.
NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept reflects this evolving landscape. It delineates the challenges facing the Alliance and emphasizes the dual nature of EDTs: as opportunities for enhanced military effectiveness and as potential risks. The document acknowledges the shifting character of conflict, underlining that these technologies are becoming pivotal arenas in global competition. Consequently, NATO allies have committed to promoting innovation and increasing investments in EDTs, ensuring the Alliance retains its military edge and interoperability.
This strategic imperative pushes NATO to forge a collaborative approach to technological integration, partnering with the private sector while also safeguarding its innovation ecosystems. Above all, the principle of responsible use—aligned with the Alliance’s commitment to democratic values and human rights—serves as a guiding framework.
Innovation Policy – What Is NATO’s EDT Strategy?
In February 2021, NATO Defence Ministers approved the “Foster and Protect: NATO’s Coherent Implementation Strategy on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies.” This comprehensive strategy has two main objectives:
- Fostering a coherent approach to developing and adopting dual-use technologies, which are both commercially viable and applicable to defense, thereby strengthening the Alliance’s technological edge.
- Creating a protective forum for allies to guard against the misuse of EDTs by hostile entities, while simultaneously shielding their own technologies from adversarial interference.
NATO’s innovation initiatives currently highlight nine priority technology areas, each with specific implementation plans. These plans aim to expedite responsible innovation and ensure rapid adoption of cutting-edge technologies, enhancing decision-making while adhering to Allied norms and international law.
NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan
Recognizing the importance of agility in technological adoption, NATO leaders endorsed the Rapid Adoption Action Plan during the 2025 NATO Summit held in The Hague. This initiative aims to drastically speed up the integration of new technological products into member armed forces, optimizing processes to ensure relevance. This plan sets out shared objectives and best practices for achieving swift adoption, allowing allies to:
- Accelerate national processes for procuring and integrating new technologies.
- Test emerging technologies through standards that build confidence and reduce risks.
- Align defense industry activities with NATO’s collective military needs.
Innovation in Practice – Accelerating Technology Development and Adoption
NATO’s approach to fostering innovation includes direct engagement with communities of innovators. By creating initiatives designed to protect technological advancements from adversarial influences, NATO fosters a robust transatlantic innovation ecosystem.
Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)
Launched at the 2021 Brussels Summit, DIANA aims to cultivate transatlantic cooperation on critical technologies. Established in 2022, DIANA collaborates with academic institutions, research entities, and startups to address pressing defense and security challenges through dual-use technologies.
DIANA engages innovators through competitive challenges focused on significant defense issues, providing non-dilutive grants to start-ups while granting access to a vast network of accelerator sites and test centres. Coupled with mentorship from experts, these resources help propel technologies toward market readiness.
NATO Innovation Fund
Also initiated during the Brussels Summit, the NATO Innovation Fund represents an unprecedented EUR 1 billion venture capital initiative. This fund is designed to invest strategically in start-ups that focus on developing dual-use technologies crucial for Allied security.
Acknowledging that deep-tech innovations often encounter investment hurdles, the Fund positions itself as a patient investor. It provides risk capital and seeks to uplift deep-tech ecosystems across member countries, fulfilling the objectives of fostering innovative solutions and commercial viability.
NATO’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Review Board
The Data and AI Review Board is central to operationalizing responsible AI development within NATO. The board creates standards and toolkits to guide the implementation of AI technologies, ensuring adherence to the principles of responsible use established in the NATO AI Strategy.
This multidisciplinary group consists of experts drawn from government, academia, and civil society, aiming to foster a balanced approach to AI that aligns with NATO’s core values.
NATO Innovation Board
Chaired by the Deputy Secretary General, the NATO Innovation Board aims to provoke discussion and encourage best practices in innovation across the Alliance. Its role is pivotal in ensuring that emerging ideas from outside NATO are integrated into operational considerations.
Transatlantic Quantum Community
The Transatlantic Quantum Community serves as an informal yet vital platform for NATO allies to share knowledge and coordinate efforts in developing quantum technologies. This collaboration fosters innovation while preventing redundant efforts, ultimately enhancing each member’s technological capabilities.
NATO-Ukraine Innovation Cooperation Roadmap
Understanding the strategic importance of technology in ongoing conflicts, NATO’s collaboration with Ukraine through the NATO-Ukraine Innovation Cooperation Roadmap focuses on shared innovation goals. This partnership is especially pertinent as Ukraine seeks to integrate innovative technologies to counteract military disadvantages.
Evolution of NATO’s EDT Policies
NATO’s commitment to innovation in response to EDTs isn’t new; it dates back to the Alliance’s inception. However, the rapid pace of technological evolution necessitates a more dynamic policy framework. Key milestones in NATO’s EDT journey include:
- December 2019: A roadmap was set to identify critical technology areas, including AI and data, emphasizing the need for a strategic approach.
- June 2020: Emerging technologies were framed within the greater context of NATO’s strategic vision for the future.
- February 2021: The Coherent Implementation Strategy on EDTs was officially endorsed, solidifying NATO’s commitment to innovation.
As we move into the future, NATO continues to refine its strategic focus on emerging technologies, working diligently to adapt its policies and practices in response to the evolving technological landscape. This ongoing journey highlights the critical balance NATO seeks between innovation, security, and the foundational values that guide its member nations.
