Science for Peace and Security

Key Priorities

All activities supported by the SPS Programme must address one or more of the SPS Key Priorities (listed below, without any indication of priority). Each activity must also have a clear link to security and to NATO’s Strategic Objectives.
The priority areas for the SPS Programme focus on contemporary security challenges, and are based on NATO’s Strategic Concept agreed by Allies at the November 2010 Lisbon Summit, and on the Strategic Objectives of NATO’s Partner Relations agreed in Berlin in April 2011.

1. Facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation on issues of common interest, including international efforts to meet emerging security challenges

1. Counter-Terrorism
   • Methods for the protection of critical infrastructure, supplies and personnel;
   • Human factors in the defence against terrorism;
   • Detection technologies against the terrorist threat of explosive devices and other illicit activities;
   • Risk management, best practices and technologies in response to terrorism.
2. Energy Security
   • Innovative energy solutions for the military; battlefield energy solutions; renewable energy solutions with military applications;
   • Energy infrastructure security;
   • Maritime aspects of energy security;
   • Technological aspects of energy security.
3. Cyber Defence
   • Critical infrastructure protection, including sharing of best practices, capacity building and policies;
   • Support in developing cyber defence capabilities, including new technologies and support to the construction of information technology infrastructure;
   • Cyber defence situation awareness.
4. Defence against Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Agents
   • Methods and technology to protect against, diagnose effects of, detect, decontaminate, destruct, dispose and contain CBRN agents;
   • Risk management and recovery strategies and technologies;
   • Medical countermeasures against CBRN agents.
5. Environmental Security
   • Security issues arising from key environmental and resource constraints, including health risks, climate change, water scarcity and increasing energy needs, which have the potential to significantly affect NATO's planning and operations;
   • Disaster forecasting and prevention of natural catastrophes;
   • Defence-related environmental issues.

2. Enhance support for NATO-led operations and missions

• Provision of civilian support through SPS Key Priorities;
• Provision of access to information through internet connectivity as in the SILK-Afghanistan Programme;
• Cultural and social aspects in military operations and missions;
• Enhancing cooperation with other international actors.

3. Enhance awareness of security developments including through early warning, with a view to preventing crises

1. Security-related Advanced Technology
   • Emerging technologies including nanotechnology, optical technology, micro satellites, metallurgy and the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms.
2. Border and Port Security
   • Border and port security technology;
   • Cross-border communication systems and data fusion;
   • Expert advice and assessments of border security needs and best practices.
3. Mine and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Detection and Clearance
   • Development and provision of advanced technologies, methodologies and best practices;
   • Solutions to counter improvised explosive devices (IED).
4. Human and Social Aspects of Security related to NATO's Strategic Objectives

4. Any project clearly linked to a threat to security not otherwise defined in these priorities may also be considered for funding under the SPS Programme

Such proposals will be examined for links to NATO's Strategic Objectives (e.g. in the field of hybrid challenges).