NATO representatives discuss future research and technology projects
From 21 to 24 September, delegates from NATO and partner countries met at the Alliance’s Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) fall meeting in Tallinn, Estonia. More than 130 participants discussed NATO’s research and development objectives and future projects.
Estonian Defence Minister Jaak Aaviksoo opened the meeting, emphasizing that complex research involving human factors is important in developing new technologies – future projects need to consider the end users of the technology. He said that his Ministry would like to increase Estonian participation in research and technology projects, particularly in human factors, combat medicine and psychology, as well as IT and cyber defence.
Aurelia Bouchez, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for NATO’s new Emerging Security Challenges Division, spoke via videoconferencing about collaboration opportunities between the new division and the RTO.
NATO reform and the relationship between the RTO and industry partners were also on the agenda.
The RTO was formed in 1998 through the merger of the Alliance’s Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development and the Defence Research Group. It carries out research in a range of technology areas such as applied vehicle technology; human factors and medicine, information systems, system analysis, as well as sensors and electronics technology.